Ilkay Gundogan has identified the roles of Rodri and Fernandinho as two players that were catalysts for Manchester City's improved form.
Pep Guardiola 's side clicked into gear after a 2-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in November and have only lost once in the Premier League since.
Manchester United recently ended their 21-game winning run but City are still on course to win the Premier League title, with a 14-point gap separating the two Manchester clubs still.
Gundogan has been central to City's form, with no player scoring more goals since November 15 in the Premier League.
The German believes that the discipline of Rodri and Fernandinho has allowed City's creative players to shine higher up the pitch.
"I think there are a couple of tactical details," Gundogan told Sky Sports.
"Our build-up play improved so much compared to the beginning of the season that it just gives us offensive-minded players that opportunity to play with a little more freedom and not think too much about whether the ball will arrive because we know that at one point it will arrive, we can be quite sure of that.
"Credit must go to our defenders and our holding midfielders like Rodri and Fernandinho who are obviously involved a lot in bringing the ball from our defence to our offence. We can rely on these guys. Then it is about our freedom and finding the right positions.
"It is not just how we defend but it is also how we attack with Joao (Cancelo) coming into midfield, giving us one more opportunity in our build-up play, making it a bit more fluent."
"I feel like this is maybe not the best form of my life as lots of people are saying," he added, discussing his own contribution.
"In terms of numbers, I have the best numbers that I have ever had in my career. This is something that I cannot deny and of course this is also what keeps people's attention.
"But just the fact that I am scoring goals now - and a lot of goals now - that does not make me a better player and it does not make me a happier person. I am always looking deeper into the game and how I played, no matter whether I scored or assisted or whatever."
