Man derby is the biggest - Vincent

CITY SKIPPER: FIXTURE IS ABOUT MORE THAN POINTS

Kompany happy with the added pressure that this game brings.

Manchester

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany believes the derby against Manchester United is the biggest fixture of the season and he would feel the same even if the two teams were not involved in the Premier League title race.

Leaders City would open an 11-point advantage over second-placed United with a win at Old Trafford on Sunday.

But Kompany, who scored a derby winner for City against United in their title-winning season in 2012, says the rivalry is more than just about the points on the table.

“I kind of press pause when it’s a derby and the season doesn’t matter to me anymore, it’s all about the derby,” the 31 year-old centre back told Sky Sports.

“Managers and players do like to downplay it, but I don’t care, it’s rubbish. The derby at that moment is the most important game in the world to me.

“It doesn’t matter which position we are in, whether we need a point, three points, I don’t care, we need to make sure we leave that place with our heads high.”

Kompany accepts that some players want to avoid the pressure surrounding a local derby.

“I think it’s a natural thing to want to almost put expectations a bit lower, because it makes you feel like the pressure is perhaps easier to deal with, but in my case I am happy to deal with pressure,” he added.

City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne wishes Paul Pogba were available for Sunday’s Premier League derby because he relishes playing against “the best teams and the best players”.

United midfielder Pogba will be starting his three-match suspension after his red card for a reckless challenge on Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin. – Reuters