Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has put Manchester City's record-winning streak down to the work of manager Pep Guardiola.
The Citizens' victory over Newcastle United on Wednesday night made it 18 in a row in the Premier League, taking them 15 points clear at the summit.
Much has been made about the size of City's summer outlay, when completely overhauling their full-back department, but Carragher claims that there is more to it than just money and believes Guardiola would have had similar success across the city at Manchester United.
"There is a flaw in Jose Mourinho's argument that the difference between Manchester United and Manchester City is money," he wrote in his column for The Telegraph. "If Pep Guardiola was in charge of the United squad I believe they would win the title. Rewind to the start of this season and assess the head-to-head qualities of the United and City squads.
"Player-for-player, which would you argue was superior? United broke the world transfer record to sign Paul Pogba, and then made Romelu Lukaku the most expensive Premier League player of last summer. Which English clubs made bigger statements of intent?
"If Mourinho was coaching the Manchester City side they would not be playing the style of football we are seeing today. If there is a symbol of that look no further than Kevin De Bruyne, a player Mourinho coached at Chelsea but then sold.
"Where Guardiola is delivering in the short-term with an eye on further development, Mourinho is now about the instant hit. Players who may excel in two or three years time do not seem to be of interest as he rarely hangs around at a club to reap the benefits of their progress."
City return to action on Sunday afternoon with a trip to face Crystal Palace, while closest challengers United take on Southampton a day prior.
Daniel Lewis
