Peter Schmeichel has insisted that Manchester City will never be a bigger club than Manchester United as the two bitter rivals prepare to lock horns in the Premier League this weekend.

Man United have struggled since Sir Alex Ferguson departed in 2013, with the Red Devils finishing seventh, fourth and fifth in the last three Premier League seasons under David Moyes and Louis van Gaal respectively.

During that period, Man City have won one Premier League title and finished above their rivals on each occasion, but Schmeichel has said that the Citizens have "no chance of being anywhere near the biggest [club] in the world".

"There's no doubt, nobody can argue that Manchester United is not the biggest club in the world. It is," Schmeichel told Omnisport. "It's the club with the most fans, supporters and there are numbers out there which are official numbers so you can't argue that.

"But is it the best club in the world? It hasn't been for three years, it hasn't been even anywhere near the best club in England. Manchester City have been there or thereabouts. This is something you learn as soon as you walk through the doors at Old Trafford that you're never better than your last performance. You always have to improve on your last performance.

"When you look at the last three years it has been very, very poor. Seventh, fourth and fifth – that's not Manchester United. But Manchester City has been there or thereabouts so you can argue that they are the bigger club in Manchester at the moment in terms of results. But in terms of popularity they've got no chance of being anywhere near the biggest in the world."

Schmeichel represented Man United between 1991 and 1999, winning five Premier League titles and the Champions League at Old Trafford, before also enjoying a stint with Man City during the 2002-03 season.