Guardiola delighted with 'exceptional journey'

Thankfully on Friday, Pep Guardiola was much more chatty than in his previous pre-match news conference which lasted all of two minutes.

The Spaniard's first Premier League game in charge of Manchester City came against Saturday's opponents Sunderland back in August 2016.

Guardiola pointed out that David Moyes was also taking charge of the Black Cats for the first time and when I said he had a big smile on his face beforehand, he asked: "Are you sure?"

I am sure, having looked back on the footage.

Asked whether he still has the same level of excitement as he did all those years ago, Guardiola replied: "We are not the same as we were 10 years ago. The first game in the Premier League at home - the expectations that we had were different. I'm not saying it was better or worse. It is completely different. Normal.

"I do not have enough words to express what I have lived here. The incredible people I have met here. It has been an exceptional journey. It has been top."