Former Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany has revealed that it was just as hard getting past Sir Alex Ferguson as it was Manchester United's players when the two sides were jockeying for success during the Scot's tenure as manager.
City, of course, pipped United to their first-ever Premier League title in Ferguson's penultimate season in the managerial hot-seat at Old Trafford, meaning their success was made just that little bit sweeter.
Trailing 2-1 to QPR on the final day of the 2011/12 season, Edin Dzeko's late heroics and Sergio Aguero's infamous strike were enough to see the Premier League title make its way to the Etihad Stadium in the final minutes of the season, securing one of the most dramatic victories you are ever likely to see.
Although United wrestled City's crown back off them the following season, bringing the curtain down on Ferguson's glittering Old Trafford career in style, City have since been the dominant force in Manchester, scooping a further four league titles, during which time United have not won one.
Despite the continued success that City have enjoyed in recent years, Kompany has revealed just how special it was for City to get the better of United whilst they were at their peak, as well as being able to overcome Ferguson's managerial expertise to get the job done.
"It wasn't about [United], they were equal that year," Kompany told FIVE, explaining how City's mindset changed after Sir Alex Ferguson retired.
"They had a better period in the middle, we had a better period in the start. It was a big deal to win in a strong United era. Having Fergie still there and big names still there.
"You can't be that long at a club and when you leave everything's going to run the same. It was the impact when he left, things changed.
"'Fergie Time' and little changes he made in games to tip it his way, mental games before you even played went out of the window straight away. You played against United and the players but you've also got Fergie."
After watching City win the title on goal difference in 2011/12, United returned to the top step of English football in 2012/13, winning the title by an 11-point margin ahead of their cross-city rivals, who scooped second place.
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