Alan Hansen believes Manchester City have allowed Manchester United back into the Premier League race when they should have had the title sewn tied up in January.

Roberto Mancini spoke of his team's tiredness after the defeat at Swansea earlier this month, but such remarks will only encourage their city rivals. Tiredness begets poorform, and the mental strength of both sets of players will have changed for the final eight or nine games of the season. A nine match unbeaten run means the momentum is now with Manchester United.

A core group of Manchester City players, those that comprise the spine of the team - Joe Hart, Micah Richards, Vincent Kompany, Yaya Toure, David Silva and Sergio Aguero - compare with "anything we have seen at Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool", Hansen believes. They were irrepressible for the opening four months of the season, but they have allowed Manchester United back into a race they should have won on New Year's Day.