Antonio Conte has claimed Wednesday night's Carabao Cup semi-finalists, Chelsea and Arsenal, cannot compete with the two Manchester clubs, and are in a fight to be the best of the rest.

Manchester United this week signed Alexis Sanchez in a deal worth £180 million. His shadow will hover over the Emirates as the club who could not afford to keep him take on the club who could not afford him, for a place in the Carabao Cup final.

Manchester City pulled out of the race to sign Sanchez, but Chelsea head coach Conte believes the Premier League leaders and United are leaving the chasing pack behind with their spending power.

“I think, for sure, in this moment there are two teams in this league who are ‘top’. They stay there,” said Conte. “The others have to fight. To fight for a place in the Champions League. It’s not only here in England.

“These two big clubs can become seriously dangerous for other teams in the world. These two teams are very strong already and want to invest. Alexis Sanchez, only one or two clubs can pay this type of salary.