Manchester derby is the 'most important game in the world', says Vincent Kompany

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany believes the Manchester derby is the "most important game in the world", irrespective of the clubs' position in the table.

The 175th installment of the all-Mancunian affair will unfold on Sunday (10 December), when Manchester United host City at Old Trafford and the Belgian, who scored the winner as his side beat their rivals in April 2012, insisted there would be a lot more than points at stake.

"I kind of press pause when it's a derby and the season doesn't matter to me anymore, it's all about the derby," he was quoted as saying by Sky Sports.

"Managers and players do like to downplay it, but I don't care, it's rubbish. The derby at that moment is the most important game in the world to me."

The Premier League leaders are still unbeaten this season and arrive into the game eight points clear of second-placed United, but Kompany was adamant the game would retain the same magnitude even if the two clubs were in the less noble part of the table.

"It means more than anything else, and it will be everything I've got, everything the team have got and everything the fans have got to win that game," he added.

"It doesn't matter which position we are in, whether we need a point, three points, I don't care, we need to make sure we leave that place with our heads high."

City won at Old Trafford last season as Mourinho and Guardiola first met in the Premier League in what remains the last defeat United have suffered on home turf under the Portuguese coach. Since September last year, United have gone 39 games unbeaten at Old Trafford, setting a new club record in the process.

However, City have won four of the last six league meetings on their neighbours' turf and have lost only three times in the Premier League against their local rivals in the last six seasons.

Guardiola's men will be looking to bring that record to an end and to set one themselves, as they try to equal Arsenal's tally for most consecutive wins in the Premier League should they be victorious on Sunday.

Kompany, however, admitted that with emotions riding so high, even the more experienced players could struggle to keep themselves under control.

"I think it's a natural thing to want to almost put expectations a bit lower, because it makes you feel like the pressure is perhaps easier to deal with, but in my case I am happy to deal with pressure," he explained.

"I enjoy it more than anyone else and I am happy to say that the derby is more important than any other game. I don't care what anyone says."