Saturday 14 January 2017 07:47, UK
Pep Guardiola says it is "always a pleasure" to be reunited with Ronald Koeman as he prepares for Manchester City's match against Everton on Super Sunday.
City travel to Goodison Park in the first game of Merseyside v Manchester, the second time this season that Guardiola will face off against his former Barcelona team-mate whom he said has always been a major influence on him.
"It's the third or fourth time we have [played against each other]," said Guardiola, speaking on the special preview show 'Mersey v Manchester: Countdown', on Sky Sports 1HD. "We had dinner together when they played here and now we go to Goodison Park. It's always a pleasure to see him.
"When I started playing at Barcelona I said many times, and will repeat it a thousand times, how important his advice was for me, especially on the pitch. To see how he'd react playing football and his huge personality in the big games.
"He understood the game perfectly. When he was playing his position in the back four he would control and see everything. You could imagine he'd become a coach.
"We spoke many times when I was in Munich and now we're together [in England] we congratulate each other when we win.
"I am glad to be his friend."
Manchester City suffered two tough defeats at the hands of Chelsea and Leicester at the start of December, but have since recovered to win four of their last five Premier League games, as well as thrashing West Ham 5-0 in the FA Cup last weekend.
However, Guardiola insists there are still plenty of improvements that can be made between now and the end of the season.
"Football, and sport in general, is about how you react when you win and how you react when you lose," he said. "The important thing is how you feel your team is getting better, and the way you play and train and many things you see are improving and getting better, that is the only way.
"It was good [against West Ham] but we've had better performances. It was better because we were able to make more passes in a row than before, but we could still control many more aspects from the opening."
Despite still competing for trophies on three fronts, Guardiola says he is unlikely to use the January transfer window to bring in any new players.
"I'm happy with the squad we have," he said. "[That could change] if there's an opportunity or an injury, but hopefully it won't happen. I'm happy working here and the people I'm working with."
