Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola admits he sees similarities between Chelsea manager Frank Lampard and his own beginning at Barcelona.

Lampard has guided Chelsea to one place above Manchester City after 12 games of the season ahead of their clash with the Premier League champions at the Etihad on Saturday evening.

Guardiola, who was promoted from Barcelona B to take over the first team by president Joan Laporta in 2008, said: "In those terms you could say there's a comparison, but it's too early. He's just done one-and-a-half years, I've done longer as I'm older but he has the future in his hands.

"I would say that if you know the club it's an advantage. He knows Chelsea, the media, the fans, and for the fact when I arrived, not many people trusted me. The president, sporting director but not many.

"Maybe Frank is similar. When nobody trusts you it's perfect. You are going to turn the opinions of the people round.

"I think Chelsea over many years have been an incredible top team, but from the beginning (of the season) his team has played good.

"They were consistent with his ideas, the results are theirs. I'm happy for him. I know him a little bit, I know when he was here he was an excellent person. For English football, it's great when young English guys take over, he's perfect for English football. It's good."