David Silva has explained that the Manchester derby has changed because Manchester United now have much more respect for Man City.
The cross-town rivals will meet once again on Wednesday and it could be one of the most significant Manchester derbies in recent memory.
City are two points behind Liverpool in the intense Premier League title race but the trip to Old Trafford is their game in hand and a victory would put City back on the summit and in the driving seat going into the last three games of the season.
The fact that the game is a derby adds a whole new complication, however, despite United's horrid run of form, as each side has picked up four wins each in the last 10 meetings.
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Yet Silva claims that the dynamic of the derby has changed in recent years thanks to City's succsess.
"We had a huge amount of respect for them and I think you could tell," the Spaniard told Manchester City's website.
"Then after the second year, everything started to change and I think now the respect for us is enormous.
"The game is getting bigger and bigger. These games have something added now, whoever wins will see the effect all around the world. Honestly, the games are getting better by the year, and we hope it keeps going like that.
"The first derbies were complicated, especially in the first year. We drew 1-1 at home and lost the other one at their home.
"But from that points on everything started to change a little bit and nowadays they have a huge respect for us. I think that on balance the derby lands in our favour, we have won more games."
