Sven-Goran Eriksson (Picture: AFP/Getty)

Sven-Goran Eriksson has revealed he told Roman Abramovich to buy Chelsea over Tottenham because the north Londoners were not good enough at the time.

Abramovich’s billions have transformed the Stamford Bridge club from nearly-men to Premier League and European champions since becoming their owner in 2003.

But former England manager Eriksson has claimed in his new autobiography that it was very nearly Spurs who benefited from the Russian oil magnate’s vast riches.

Elaborating on the claims in a BBC Radio 5live interview, Eriksson said: ‘Roman wanted to buy a club in Russia.


‘I went with him to Moscow to see the facilities at two or three clubs.



‘But then he changed his mind and he said he wanted to buy a club in London.

BLOG: Why Jose Mourinho is wrong about Liverpool’s title credentials

Roman Abramovich, it seems, was not sure which London club he wanted to buy (Picture: AFP/Getty Images)

‘He was thinking Chelsea or Tottenham.

‘He phoned me and said: “Who shall I buy?”

‘I said if you want to win the league then Chelsea – because you only have to change half of the team.

‘At that time with Tottenham maybe you would have had to change the whole team.’

MORE: Five things Andre Villas-Boas must fix to turn Spurs into the best team around