Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has paid tribute to the work that went on before him as his team chases down a Treble.

Guardiola believes City's current status as one of Europe's elite teams isn't simply down to the work he has done since arriving in the summer of 2016 – it's because of the strength of the organisation created under the ownership of Sheikh Mansour.

"In our period together, these five seasons, it is the same like the first Premier League we won. We are almost the same guys and same identity," he said.

"The era involves Sheikh Mansour and Khaldoon Al Mubarak, when they took over the club they made the development in terms of players and also the facilities in terms of being professional in all departments of the club.

"I feel it. I came from Barcelona and Bayern Munich so I know what I am talking about.

"It's not just a club with incredible players, it's more than that.

"Mark Hughes started to build and then Roberto Mancini and Manuel Pellegrini had success.

"This decade was a successful era for this club and organisation. It doesn't belong just to the people here now."