Manchester City will be a huge force under Pep Guardiola next season, according to former midfielder Frank Lampard.
Speaking in an interview with the Daily Mail, the New York City star also believes City's rivalry with Manchester United will be stoked up if Jose Mourinho takes over at Old Trafford in the summer.
Lampard said: "There are two geniuses: Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola - what a great rivalry that will be if Jose goes to Old Trafford.
"If City beat Liverpool [in the Capital One Cup final on Sunday], which I fancy they will do, then they can still get back in the title race.
"You win it, fans come, you ride off the crest of the wave and you carry on through the season.
"They will be a huge force under Guardiola. I think, yes, Man City can push on in a massive way. He's an innovator."
Lampard is preparing for his first full Major League Soccer season with NYCFC after featuring at the end of last term following his loan at Man City.
The former England international also spoke of his worry over the future of former club Chelsea and a lack of "big personalities" in the team.
He said: "Maybe Chelsea are looking for a more beautiful way. Fair play if they get to that but that way doesn't come that easily.
"The problem is do you fall in the middle, somewhere between tough and beautiful? It's nice football at times but it's not that nice and it's not really winning games. It's not beautiful, beautiful stuff."
