Manchester City hero Paul Dickov says his former club's current crop would have every right to be considered alongside the 1999 Manchester United side should they complete the treble.
Pep Guardiola's side have already been confirmed as the Premier League champions for the third season in a row, whilst they have more opportunities to add further silverware. They take on fierce rivals Manchester United in the FA Cup final before taking on Inter Milan in the Champions League final.
Speaking exclusively to Mirror Football on behalf of 888sport, Dickov has suggested if they achieve that feat then City could potentially be considered an even better side than the Red Devils’ 1999 treble-winning side due to more added competition in the modern era.
The former striker said: “If they manage to do the treble, they’re up there with the very best teams in the history of football. There’s only one team to have ever done it and that shows you how difficult it is to do.
“Fair do’s Manchester United in 1999 were the best up until this point. It’s so difficult to compare the teams. It’s different generations and different styles of football.
“There’s obviously a lot more money in the game now. I think the competition now - that would be three in a row.
Wich side do you think is better - current Man City or Man Utd's 1999 treble winners? Share your thoughts in the comments below
“At Sir Alex’s great Man Utd team, Arsene Wenger ’s invincibles, Jose Mourinho's Chelsea team with [Didier] Drogba, they were all absolutely sensational and I’m not taking anything away from them - and it’s not me with my blue tinted glasses on either - I just think there is more competition now.
“Fergie's team were up against Arsenal all the time. Now if you look over previous seasons, people have said there’s a top four where you could arguably say it’s a top six or top seven.
“I think you could say the league now is stronger than it’s ever been. If Man City can win the league and win the treble, it’s got to be up there with one of the best teams we’ve ever seen.”
Somewhat unsurprisingly, former Man United midfielder Roy Keane has given his backing to his former side in the argument of which side would be better. Speaking shortly before City lifted their latest Premier League crown, he said: “I’d obviously have preference to the team I was involved in.
“I thought we had brilliant players, brilliant characters, this City group has it as well of course so I think it would be a pretty decent game. The game has changed and I suppose they’ve probably got a bigger squad. They’ve got probably more internationals involved, when you look at the players coming off the bench.
“You talk about Jack Grealish there recently, a £100m player coming off the bench, particularly last year. But he’s matured this year, so City probably have a bit more strength in depth in terms of world-class quality, but I go back to the lads I played with and we always felt we had some brilliant characters, but then again so do CIty, so it’s maybe an unfair question to come to somebody who is involved in it.”
Away from the treble, City will also have aspirations of holding onto their crown. Should they win the league next season, then they would become the first ever English side to win four top-flight titles in a row.
When asked what Pep Guardiola has left to achieve with City, Dickov claims that holding onto all of their titles will be their prime target. He added: "Winning it again. That’s why this team and this squad is so good, it’s a mentality. They’re all serial winners now.
"Everybody within that squad knows how to win things at the top level. The hardest thing when you win something is to retain it the next season. Whether that’s the Champions League, FA Cup or Premier League, that will be their ultimate goal because they want to stay at the top for as long as they can."
Paul Dickov was speaking on behalf of 888sport. Head to 888sport for the latest football odds.
