Nigel Pearson has hailed his current squad as the best he has worked with at Leicester City.
The City boss said the current crop is as good as any he had assembled previously, and are a pleasure to lead.
City moved into third place in the Championship after their 4-0 demolition of Bristol City at Ashton Gate, and Pearson said his squad was definitely stronger than the side he fielded against the Robins last season.
"This is possibly the best group we have had, yes," he said. "It is certainly better than the group we brought here last season.
"We had the so-called bigger names in the side but showed a soft underbelly last season. This time, we were a totally different proposition."
Pearson said City's good team-spirit was down to meticulous research when looking to add to his squad.
Pearson and his assistants, Steve Walsh and Craig Shakespeare, have worked hard to move on players who do not fit their profile, and have recruited young and hungry players who are easier to coach and work with.
"We do a lot of hard work to get the right people to bring in," said Pearson.
"They are a good group to work with because they work hard and they are honest, and they get on pretty well.
"You can't expect them all to be best mates because there are times when you have to confront each other with certain things that happen, but they are a very good group to work with and are focused on trying to get success for the club and themselves."
In-form City have the chance to move into the automatic promotion places on Friday when they face fellow promotion hopefuls Middlesbrough at the King Power Stadium.
City are just two points behind Hull, and victory will see them move above the Tigers until Steve Bruce's side travel to Peterborough on Saturday.
Boro, who are fifth but on the same number of points as City and Crystal Palace, have injury doubts over striker Ishmael Miller and Josh McEachran after the pair limped out of their home defeat to Watford on Saturday. Marvin Emnes and Jonathan Woodgate also face a race to be fit to face City.
