Chelsea boss Antonio Conte is looking forward to locking horns with Pep Guardiola when the Blues visit Manchester City on Saturday.

The two high-profile coaches will meet for the first time in their careers with City trailing Premier League leaders Chelsea by a solitary point.

Conte said: "I've never faced Pep. I have great respect for him because he likes to study football; he likes to find a new solution.

"It's not easy when you have an idea to transfer it in a short period of time. But he is a fantastic manager and he's doing fantastic work at Manchester City.

"He's found a good situation in Manchester City. There is a sporting director and another who worked with him at Barcelona. He found the right situation to put his idea of football across quickly.

"When I see them, I see the idea of football, I like this and for me Pep is doing fantastic work.

"It is my first season in England and this game is fantastic."