Pep’s relentlessly brilliant side could go down as the greatest in City’s history

THIS could be the greatest Manchester City team ever – and Pep Guardiola doesn’t need to win the Champions League to prove it.

In the affections of City supporters, the class of 1967-68 under Joe Mercer and Malcolm Allison will take some beating.

And for sheer drama and brinkmanship, Sergio Aguero’s last-gasp goal to snatch the title from Manchester United with the last kick of the season nine years ago is in a class of its own.

But to string 21 wins in a row together – some of them without a recognised striker on the pitch – is pure genius.

Contrast City’s astonishing form with United’s string of goalless draws in games against traditional big-six rivals and the look of a team running on empty. When City lost 2-0 at Tottenham 105 days ago, they were 13th and United were a point ahead of them.

But mind the gap now – it’s 14 points and rising. City are going to run away with the title, they are in the League Cup final and will cruise into the Champions League quarter-finals.

Their transformation since the 0-0 draw at Old Trafford in December and their hunger to keep churning out win after win has been phenomenal.

Look at the stats contrasting the title-winning sides of 1968 and 2019 with this season, and you’ll see they are on course for greatness because the winpercentage and points per game are climbing as their unbeaten run extends.

But United are a worry because they have hit a wall too often for it to be sheer coincidence.

They have drawn 0-0 with Chelsea home and away, failed to score twice against Arsenal and drew a blank at Anfield when recent history suggests Liverpool were there for the taking.

If you tot up the total minutes played by outfield players in the Premier League this season, four of the top five are United players – Harry Maguire, Aaron WanBissaka, Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes. That suggests manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (left, with Pep) is too reliant on a core group of players – the depth of quality in his squad doesn’t run anywhere near as deep as Guardiola’s squad. Only Solskjaer knows why he is so dependant on those four, but United looked tired and stale at Chelsea last weekend while City look fresh.

When Wolves equalised at the Etihad on Monday night, City simply ramped up the tempo and ran away with it.

City are so good to watch it feels like they are playing with an extra man. Riyad Mahrez and Ilkay Gundogan were not always first-choice last year, but they have been consistent and inspired on this run.

Phil Foden looks like the new Gazza, and the Ruben DiasJohn Stones axis has given them a defensive resilience to go with all that flair.

Now City are being linked with a move for Erling Haaland, who has scored 33 goals for Borussia Dortmund and Norway this season.

If City sign him, they will be untouchable.