Vincent Kompany believes Manchester United "threw the title away" when Manchester City claimed their first Premier League crown in 2012.
In what is perhaps the most dramatic final day in English football history Sergio Aguero scored deep into injury time to win the title for City.
They claimed it thanks to a superior goal difference, but with six games to go they were eight points adrift of their rivals.
City went on to win all of their remaining games while United drew to Everton and lost to Wigan as well as their neighbours.
And even though Kompany admits Roberto Mancini's side had fantastic moments, he concedes it was a chance spurned by Sir Alex Ferguson and co.
"That season really as much as over the course of the season we were the better team, in reality United kind of threw it away," he told BBC Sport's Gary Lineker.
"Because we were not consistent. We were just fantastic with moments and then we had moments where we had inexplicable losses and situations during the season.
"It wasn't a calm season and you think with Ferguson, Rio Ferdinand at the back, Vidic, Evra...it was a great team. All these guys and yet they gave it away.
"We did something amazing. Whenever we had the chance with our team, we were capable of winning eight, nine, ten in a row.
"Then things would explode and there'd be like a training ground fight or whatever and then we'd be winning 10 more in a row.
"It was a bit of the old City at that time still but we had momentum right at the end and that was most important."
City were unable to retain their title the following year as Ferguson enjoyed the perfect swansong.
But the blue half of Manchester have since claimed three titles in six years under Manuel Pellegrini and Pep Guardiola.
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