AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani believes English dominance in Europe is down to money.
Four Premier League sides have made it through to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League this season, while Manchester City continue to chase Uefa Cup glory.
In contrast, no Italian teams have progressed to the last eight in Europe's premier club competition and only Udinese remain in the last 16 of the Uefa Cup.
It is by no means the first season that English teams have enjoyed such continental domination.
Galliani insists this recent trend is down to financial muscle, with clubs in the Premier League operating on a different level to their European counterparts.
"The main reason for this crisis is economic," said the Milan supremo.
"The English teams, thanks most of all to their stadiums, have higher gate receipts than us (Italy). England and Spain bring in more money and that's a serious problem.
"If we don't have the stadiums we won't be able to compete at the top European level any more.
Disaster"Ten years ago we were ranked number one in Europe and we earnt much more money than the English and Spanish clubs but now we have to let them past.
"I remember in 1990 when Barcelona asked about (Marco) van Basten, Milan earnt more money than the Spanish but now that's no longer possible and if the same thing happened again, we would lose the Dutchman.
"If we don't reverse this trend Italy could even lose third place in the European rankings and that would be a disaster."
While Premier League champions Manchester United currently dominate European football, Galliani believes Milan are capable of catching Sir Alex Ferguson's side in the future.
"I want to remind you all of a date no newspaper is talking about any more," he said.
"The Red Devils lost to Milan in the 2007 semi-final at the San Siro and since then they have played 21 Champions League matches without defeat.
"Also the last time Manchester United lost at Old Trafford was in the second round in 2005, also against us, when we won 1-0 thanks to a goal from (Hernan) Crespo.
"This means something."
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