Football
Jonathan Smith, Manchester City correspondent 6y

Man City's Kevin De Bruyne wants to widen Prem lead over Man United

MANCHESTER -- Kevin De Bruyne is relishing the opportunity to open up an even bigger gap over Manchester United rather than thinking that Manchester City's lead at the top of the table will be cut.

City are eight points clear of their nearest rivals ahead of a potentially decisive Manchester derby away to second-placed United.

A Premier League record 14th successive win would see them move 11 points clear, but the Belgium international is also under no illusions about how difficult it will be at Old Trafford against a side that could equal a club-record 40 home games unbeaten against CSKA Moscow in the Champions League on Tuesday.

"I'd prefer to be 11 points ahead rather than five or eight because it's better but it means we almost have a four-game advantage," he told reporters.

"It's a good gap but doesn't mean anything. Football goes very quick. It's a busy two months when things can change but the way we're going is good and we need to continue that.

"United are one of the biggest clubs in the country. They're a massive team, they want to win the title. They spent a lot of money, like a lot of the big teams. They will be up for it and we will be up for it. Hopefully it'll be a good game.

"We'll play the same there. We never change. We try to do the things that we are good at. That gives us the best chance to win."

City's 2-1 victory over West Ham United on Sunday took their club-record winning streak to 20 successive games.

However, De Bruyne, who has remained behind in Manchester and will miss Wednesday's Champions League clash with Shakhtar Donetsk through suspension, said it will count for nothing if they don't win the title at the end of the season.

"Are you going to say, if we don't win anything at the end of the season, you are going to talk about the 20 wins we have now?" he said. "It is phenomenal but obviously we want to win in the end.

"It gives us a good advantage for the moment but we have a big week with United, Swansea and Tottenham. If you lose two games out of three and they win everything, they are there.

"It is just the way it goes. It goes up and down in football and at the moment we are on an up. We need to keep focused with whatever we are doing and keep busy with ourselves."

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