Kompany - Rivalry to heighten

City player predicts growing derby intensity

By James Dall   Last updated: 28th November 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Kompany - Rivalry to heighten

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Vincent Kompany believes the enormity of the Manchester derby will continue to grow as City's new-found wealth assists them in developing as a club.

City and Premier League champions United lock horns for the 150th time on Sunday, in a game that can be seen live on Sky Sports 1 & HD1.

Kompany joined the now affluent Eastlands side over the summer with further spending expected in January as they look to match the likes of their successful Manchester rivals.

The Belgian is eagerly anticipating the grudge match and is expecting an increase in the intensity of the battles in the match-ups to come.

"This is the biggest derby I have ever played in and it will constantly get bigger in the next years," he said.

Pressure

"City will keep improving. We have a good team now but we are very young and inexperienced. We realise that the pressure is ever growing."

He added: "Everything stops, like the championship - it does not matter any more. It is all about this one match.

"There is no club that is 11th or a club that is first - there are just two sides from Manchester who will fight until the end to win the match.

"If you play such a derby there is no top team or a team that is worse. In a derby the pressure is so high. It is not about points - it is about the honour and I think that is a completely new situation."