Kompany claims current City team is best he's played in

With Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus also offering excitement up front and England centre-back John Stones growing in stature at the back, the City captain says the future is bright despite a disappointing trophyless season under Pep Guardiola.

“My opinion is simple,” said Kompany. “I’ve been part of teams here who have been able to win trophies, but never a team that has been able to control a game and dominate a game like we do now.

“Unfortunately, we lost a little bit of the edge we had before. But that’s something we can recover, especially when I see the talent that is on the pitch today.

“Gabriel Jesus, you can see he’s hungry to get goals. Leroy and Raheem were trying to shoot and get goals.

“We don’t mind as long as people keep trying. We got a goal from David, got a goal from Kevin. That was important for us.

“When it connects in that way and those personalities shine through, I see us having advantages over any squad we’ve had before at this club. So therefore I’m objectively positive about the future.”

Kompany, who made a fifth successive start after his injury problems, has no doubt there is more to come from his team, with some players yet to realise their full potential.

Compatriot Kevin De Bruyne has been shaded in this campaign by another Belgian, Eden Hazard, whose Chelsea side are poised to win the title.

But Kompany insists there’s more to come from the 25-year-old De Bruyne. “I think they are two completely different players,” he added.

“Hazard can create something out of nothing by himself. Kevin is someone who puts people into play by himself. It’s different. Both of them are extremely valuable. I’m lucky to play with both of them in the national team.

“It’s not been a comfortable season for anyone in this team. There’s been a lot of positives, I don’t believe with the view that it’s been all doom and negative.

“But Kev has still got a few gears in him and on days like this you see what a fantastic player he is.”

So too young frontmen Raheem Sterling, Leroy Sane and Gabriel Jesus, who punished the Palace defence with their pace and trickery.

“On days like this you can see they are capable of taking teams apart,” added Kompany.

“When they have that momentum you have to support that because they are young.

“When they are not thinking too much and they are able to develop their football like they did here, it can be quite a scary sight. In general on the whole season, they’ll need help from the more experienced players.

“I’m sure we can drive them on to perform at that level more and more. But for the future of the club, it’s exceptional to have these players in the team.

“I think everyone seems to be hungry to get goals, not just the forwards, and we got enough help as well to keep the clean sheet. And then things seem to unfold, we look like the team we should have been for much more of this season.

“But in reality the big difference [against Palace] was us being ruthless and the performance was consistent. It’s just a step forward though and let’s see if we can repeat it in the next two games at home.”

After Liverpool’s draw with Southampton and an improved goal difference, wins over Leicester and West Brom will put City in control of third spot and avoid a Champions League qualifier.

And Kompany added: “At the moment it’s about being in the top four and when that’s achieved it will be about finishing third. Especially with the teams competing with us, there is no chance for us to relax.”