Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has a lot of time for Bournemouth under Andoni Iraola.

The Spanish coach has not enjoyed the best of starts to life in the Premier League.

However, his side are improving, having won last time in the league and lost narrowly to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup.

Asked about playing them over the weekend, Guardiola told reporters: “They played very well vs Liverpool. Iraola did an incredible job at Real Vallecano. He plays in an offensive and attractive [way], he has a live team with a good spirit and does not sit back.

“The idea is there [at Bournemouth]. Of course training in the Premier League is a success for him. Hopefully we can give a good performance."

Asked if the Premier League is getting harder to win, he added: “Every season is tougher. Better managers, better teams. But this is the challenge - we are close, we are there.

“We still have 28 games to play and a lot of things can happen. But we want to continue to get better."

On his relationship with Iraola, he finished: “He's had many years in different teams. He is so intelligent. I don't see anything will be different tomorrow."