Sam Allardyce credits ‘£350 million’ behind Manchester City’s improvement this season

Everton manager Sam Allardyce has jokingly cited the €315.80m that Manchester City have spent this season as the biggest reason behind their improvement this season.

The Premier League leaders head to Goodison Park this weekend with a 16-point lead at the top of the table with just eight games to play. Pep Guardiola's side have averaged a league high 2.83 goals per game and Allardyce added that their new signings have made a sizable impact. Asked whether City's success this season was due to their manager's adjustment to the Premier League or his players learning from him, Allardyce replied: "And £350million... that will have a bit to do with it! "In all fairness, the money's been really well spent. It's a lot of money but it's been spent on quality players over his short period there and I think those players have brought so much more to the team overall. The average age of the player has been reduced. "Certainly the confidence has grown where they believe every game they walk out on they are not going to get beat. That grows and becomes another force before they even start. "We can't be intimidated by that. We've got to go out and get our game plan in place and master that throughout the 90 minutes to get a result against a team that's riding high." Allardyce added that City are one of the best Premier League teams ever but that they may need to add a Champions League title to really solidify their place among the all-time great teams. "I don't think anybody has ridden high at the top of the Premier League this far away," he added. "It's a big challenge and one we should really look forward to. "I suppose in the end, it's sustainability -- after this season and where would they go from here? If they actually go and win the Champions League as well then that puts them right up there. "Winning the Premier League with such a gap is certainly going to be one of the top teams to ever be in the Premier League."