one thing proves which club is really bigger

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Manchester City have dominated the English game since Pep Guardiola was summoned to the Etihad Stadium in 2016 and, regrettably for their Premier League rivals, the Catalan is hear to stay. Guardiola put pen-to-paper on an extended contract this week as City eye-up a fifth straight English title.

Liverpool, Arsenal and even Chelsea might have something to say about that. However, while City have swept all before them during the Guardiola years - including a historic treble the season before last - one former player who played for Tottenham and City reckons the north Londoners still have bragging rights in one area.

Ange Postecoglou and his swashbuckling squad will play the champions at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday (5.30pm). If recent meetings are anything to go by, another high-octane match will be in store - not just for both sets of fans - but the neutral as well.

Having split his time in England between those two clubs - spending a year with City from 2007 before signing for Tottenham and totting-up over 100 appearances in the Premier League - Vedran Corluka has a foot in both camps. However, the former defender - who now serves as assistant manager for the Croatia national team - previously stated that fans and the atmosphere created by Tottenham give their side the edge historically.

In a previous interview with Mail Online in 2011, the 38-year-old Croatian said: "I still think that [Spurs are the bigger club]. The fans are a little bit more close to the club here than at City.

"I have nothing against City and I had a great time there, but when I played for City the stadium wasn't always full, whereas here, you never see that."

Corluka, who earned 103 caps for his country, added: "Here, the stadium is full even when we play friendlies, so you can see that there is more passion for the club here than there is there."

Despite their packed trophy cabinet, the atmosphere - or perceived lack of - is a stick with which rival supporters are continuing to beat their City counterparts with. That has been evident once again this season, and is a tag ongoing success under Guardiola hasn't managed to curtail.