Manchester United are the "kings of the city" after Sunday's 4-2 derby victory over Manchester City and they can win the Premier League title next season, according to former United hero Eric Cantona.
United went behind at Old Trafford on Sunday to an early goal from Sergio Aguero, but Louis van Gaal's side scored four in a row before Aguero netted a late consolation goal for the title holders.
Former United captain Cantona, who won the Premier League with the club four times in the 1990s, says Van Gaal and his squad can use the derby to build on the Dutch coach's philosophy and mount a title challenge next season.
"I was proud and very glad," he told reporters at the Laureus World Sport Awards in Shanghai. "It's good because now they are the kings of the city. The two clubs are two of the best clubs in England, so it's very important to win this game.
"United's a great club but sometimes you have a season when you have to lose games and you finish fourth or fifth. Next year they can win the league.
"With a manager from Holland, it seems to be important for Manchester United because it's the same kind of philosophy for the game: Holland and Manchester United."
Van Gaal signed a number of high-profile players such as Angel Di Maria and Radamel Falcao last summer while promoting youth prospects like Paddy McNair and Tyler Blackett, and Cantona feels that a blend of big signings and academy prospects will benefit United in future.
"English football is so exciting because you have so many clubs that can win the league," he said. "City have won the league twice, so they have been successful, also. But they cannot win every year because the Premier League is so strong.
"It has so many clubs, so many rich clubs also, and so many clubs who work on young players. And some of them work on the young players and can buy the best players in the world, like United.
"I prefer this kind of club, who are rich enough to buy the best players they want, and also works on young players. The academy of the club is very important because they work on that for many years and I think you have the example of Barcelona, also.
"They can buy the best players but when you have a great academy, when you have a great generation, nobody can beat them, because they play together since they are 14 years old. Barcelona understood that.
"I think it was Johan Cruyff who put that in. When he was player and when he came as a manager, he brings that from Holland and from Ajax. And, since then, Barcelona have been one of the best clubs in the world -- as United have been."
City manager Manuel Pellegrini has come under heavy criticism for recent results, with six defeats in the last eight games leaving the Premier League champions adrift in fourth position.
While City have invested heavily in a new £200 million training complex which opened in December, former France international Cantona says the club may have to wait to see the benefits on the field.
"It takes time for young players," he added. "Maybe City try to do something but it takes time. Maybe they work hard on young players, I don't know. We will see. But it hasn't come along. You can build a team with a lot of money and, the next day, you can win the league.
"But, with the young players, you need 10 years. You have to wait until the young players are ready to play for the first team. So maybe they will, maybe Chelsea will also. But I think it's very important."