Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola believes Chelsea's transfer ban has helped manager Frank Lampard.

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 thinks that a transfer ban forcing Lampard to rely more heavily on the younger players has worked out well for the former England midfielder.

"I think that situation helped to use those players," said the City boss.

"But Chelsea invested a lot in the last decade, good talent from all over Europe. Then you have to find space for the players they have, the quality was always there. They insisted and brought young talent, and in the end they were there because the quality is there."