PETER Schmeichel insists Manchester City's next opponents are currently playing the best football in the Premiership.

And the Manchester City skipper reckons that much of Middlesbrough's brilliance is down to the impact that boss Steve McClaren has had at the Riverside.

Schmeichel spent only six months working with the former United and Derby County coach at Old Trafford but it was long enough for him to develop a healthy respect for McClaren's work.

"Middlesbrough at the moment are perhaps playing the best football in the league, certainly at home," said Schmeichel who will on Saturday lead the Blues for the third time.

"They express themselves more freely than any other side and are perhaps the team that has moved furthest since Steve McClaren took over.

"The way they have been playing you have to count them as one of the top six teams and it is going to be a very difficult game for us.

Praise

"Steve is a fantastic coach which doesn't always mean you are going to be a good manager but so far he has done very well. I only trained with him for six months but every day was a different day. You always ended by thinking it had been fun and you always knew you were going to be met with something new and had to focus and concentrate.

"He very much believes that training should reflect games and there was a good mix so I am not surprised by his results.

"He has what it takes to be a top coach and I am pleasantly surprised that he is doing well as a manager because it is a different job and to be able to bridge the two is very difficult. Many other high profile people have tried and failed at that."

The City goalkeeper can also sympathise with McClaren's decision to give up his work with the England squad.

"If I had been in his position I would have done the same," declared Schmeichel.

"He has a big responsibility up there. One of the reasons I gave up international football was because of the time it demands of you these days. In my case it was wearing me down.

"There is no doubt Steve was given a great opportunity with England and he took it. It helped him get the job he is in now.

"He has had the inspiration of working with Sven-Goran Eriksson, been in charge of the side himself with Peter Taylor and has left the job as a personal winner.

"He will have gained a lot from the experience."

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