Manchester derby: Peter Schmeichel believes Manchester City will always be in the shadow of rivals Manchester United – no matter how much they spend
Danish stopper admits that United are not the force of old but maintains they are biggest club in the world
PETER SCHMEICHEL believes Manchester City will always be in the shadow of their neighbours United – regardless of how much money they spend.
The Danish stopper, 52, made nearly 400 appearances for the Red Devils between 1991 and 1999 – and finished his career at City in 2003.
But ahead of the most anticipated Manchester derby in years, Schmeichel is firmly in the red half of the city when it comes to his allegiance.
And he goes even further – suggesting that Pep Guardiola‘s side will never be bigger than United.
He told Omnisport: “There’s no doubt, nobody can argue that Manchester United is not the biggest club in the world. It is.
“It’s the club with the most fans, supporters and there are numbers out there which are official numbers so you can’t argue that.
“But Manchester City has been there or thereabouts so you can argue that they are the bigger club in Manchester at the moment in terms of results.
“But in terms of popularity they’ve got no chance of being anywhere near the biggest in the world.”
Schmeichel won five FA Premier League titles, three FA Cups, one League Cup, and the Champions League during his time at the club.
But he isn’t impressed with how they’ve fared since Sir Alex Ferguson left in 2013.
He continued: “Is it the best club in the world? It hasn’t been for three years, it hasn’t been even anywhere near the best club in England. Manchester City have been there or thereabouts.
“This is something you learn as soon as you walk through the doors at Old Trafford that you’re never better than your last performance. You always have to improve on your last performance.”
United host City on Saturday at Old Trafford as Guardiola and Jose Mourinho go head-t0-head for the seventeenth time.