Dyche backs Guardiola to come good at Manchester City

Burnley boss Sean Dyche has little doubt Pep Guardiola will come good at Manchester City after a difficult start to life in the Premier League.

City have dropped to fifth place in the table following this weekend’s results, trailing leaders Chelsea by 10 points heading into Monday’s encounter with Burnley.

Guardiola has received his fair share of criticism in recent months, but Dyche is confident the Spaniard will eventually find the key to success.

“I only saw him briefly after our game and shared a couple of minutes with him, and I think a man of his footballing intelligence will be working out the reality of the Premier League,” Dyche said ahead of the match at the Etihad.

“It is not easy to work that out over one game, he will be learning all the time. He did say to me it is different, compared to Spain and Germany, and this idea of working on second balls, rather than just building play. I am sure him and his staff will be looking at that and how to add that to their game.

“They are still a fine group of players with a top-class manager, whichever way you look at it. It still makes for a good mix.”

City will be desperate to return to winning ways after their loss to Liverpool at Anfield, but Dyche is hopeful of springing a surprise.

“There is a massive gulf between us and them, but it is the marvel of football,” he added.

“We are here to take on these challenges and mostly we do take them on. If that gets us something, fantastic, if it does not, I do not think anyone will bat an eyelid. It is one for us to go there with freedom to take it on, and a big challenge.”