Manchester City will always live in Manchester United's shadow says Robbie Savage

Manchester City will always live in the shadow of Manchester United, according to the former Premier League midfielder Robbie Savage. The Red Devils suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of their neighbours in the Manchester derby at Old Trafford on 10 September.

Kevin De Bruyne and Kelechi Iheanacho were on the scoresheet for Pep Guardiola's side early in the match. However, United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic helped his side pull one back, but that fell short as City walked away with three points.

The Etihad outfit was taken over by Sheikh Mansour in 2008 and since then, they have won two league titles along with other silverware. United have also splashed the cash in the transfer window since Sir Alex Ferguson retired from his post at Old Trafford in 2013.

Savage, who was at United's academy, has claimed the 20-time English champions have been an "organic club", while City's success were "generated by hard cash".

"United have always been the organic club who grow their own success and make their own superstars while, to be brutally honest, City's two titles since 2012 were generated by hard cash," Savage told the Mirror.

"And while it may not go down well in the blue heartlands of Manchester, in my opinion that's why City will always live in United's shadow.

"Yes, United have been English football's biggest spenders over the last two years, when Louis van Gaal tried to make up lost ground by throwing big money at the transfer market. And, yes, they have just smashed the world record by splashing out on Paul Pogba," he said.

"But from the Busby Babes to Best, Beckham and the Class of 92, United remains a club built on scouting young talent and turning them into international stars. When will we next see a home-grown player score the winner for City in the FA Cup final, as Jesse Lingard did for United four months ago? When will we next see a home-grown player score the winner for City in the derby, as Marcus Rashford did for United at the Etihad last season? Savage questioned.

"Where are the academy graduates in City's likely line-up? How many of Pep Guardiola's strongest side came through the ranks at the Etihad? It won't take long to count them.

"Don't get me wrong: Manchester City is a fantastic football club with its own rich history. And since Sheikh Mansour took over as owner in 2008, he has not just transformed a team and expanded a stadium – he has rejuvenated a whole area of the city," he noted.