Ahead of the Manchester derby, United legend Gary Neville has been charged with the task of compiling a best City XI from the Premier League era.
As a home-grown talent to have emerged from the academy system at Old Trafford, the former Red Devils defender spent much of his career enjoying the upper-hand over local rivals.
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The tide has turned somewhat in recent years, though, with the arrival of Sheikh Mansour at the Etihad Stadium having allowed City to become two-time Premier League champions.
“When you talk about Manchester City's best Premier League XI you have to talk about the last five years because before that the teams and players fell well short,” Neville told Sky Sports ahead of making his selection.
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“You look at Manchester City over the last 4-5 years and they have been littered with fantastic players and should have won more titles in my opinion. They have only won two, which is fantastic considering where the club has been, but they should have been better and could have had three or four.”
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Joe Hart may have been deemed surplus to requirements by Pep Guardiola, but he gets the nod by Neville behind a back four made up of Pablo Zabaleta, Vincent Kompany, Joleon Lescott and Gael Clichy.
In midfield, Fernandinho, David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne are joined by Yaya Toure.
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“Yaya Toure has been one of the best central midfielders in the Premier League,” said Neville.
“You could put him in the Keane, Gerrard, Lampard, Vieira category for around 3-4 years when he was sensational.
“Toure, David Silva, Sergio Aguero and Kompany will go down as one of the best spines you will see in the Premier League. They were fantastic players.”
With there plenty of graft and guile in midfield, the firepower up top is provided by former United frontman Carlos Tevez and his fellow Argentine Sergio Aguero.
“Aguero has been the best striker in the Premier League for the last five or six seasons,” added Neville.
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“Since Thierry Henry left he has been the best striker for me. A fantastic player and wonderful to watch.
“Then also Carlos Tevez, who on his day was unplayable.”
City head into Thursday’s derby date with United perched just one point above their arch-rivals in the battle to secure a top-four finish in the Premier League.
