Rightful praise, it should be said, for Guardiola has built one of the greatest sides ever seen in the Premier League. Manchester City are 11 points clear of second-placed Manchester United after 16 games, and have just broken the record for most top flight league games won in a row, in a single season – 14.
However, it is worth taking into account just how much money City have spent in the transfer market since Guardiola was hired.
Jose Mourinho, the Man United boss, is often accused of being a chequebook manager, but Guardiola has outspent his rival in both the years they have been in charge of their respective Manchester clubs.