Kevin De Bruyne has played down the significance of Manchester City's derby-day trip to Manchester United on Sunday, claiming that the result will not determine where the Premier League title goes.
Victory for the league leaders would see City establish a five-point cushion over the Red Devils after 10 games played, with second-placed Arsenal also two points behind the Sky Blues as it stands.
Given that there are seven months to go in the 2015-16 campaign, De Bruyne says that the Citizens' title hopes do not hinge on how they fare at the Theatre of Dreams.
"If you take a point or even lose, it's not ideal but there are still almost 30 games to go so this result won't be the deciding factor in who wins the title," he told City's official website.
"There are still many points to be won and lost in the coming months."
Manuel Pellegrini's side could be second in the table by the time their derby kicks off, if Arsenal beat Everton at home on Saturday.
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