Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany is convinced the city is becoming the centre of football thanks to their rivalry with Manchester United.

There is no love lost between the warring neighbours, as Sunday's explosive and sometimes disgraceful events proved, but Kompany insists it is great for the city and should be embraced by everyone involved.

He said: "It's a great thing for the city and anyone who lives in and around Manchester should recognise what an incredible position it is to host two of the biggest clubs in the country in perhaps the best league in the world. It's something that should never be taken for granted by anyone.

"Football has brought a lot of happiness to Manchester, whether it's on the blue side or the red side because of these two football clubs, their successes and the work that is done in the community.

"The way Manchester is perceived worldwide is incredible and that's something I can see because I have lived abroad.

"Birmingham is a bigger city than Manchester, but you'd never know that because it's not on the global football map.

"If Manchester is famous around the world, it's because of its football clubs and I think that is something to be proud of."