No change in our approach insists Pep

GUARDIOLA DISMISSES ALTERING PHILOSOPHY

- By SIMON BAJKOWSKI

PEP Guardiola insisted nothing has changed at Manchester City as he laughed off comparisons to former rival Jose Mourinho following their 1-1 draw with Arsenal.

City had just 32 per cent possession at the Emirates, less than any Guardiola team has ever had, and were as defensive as teams have been for years against them in their ultimately unsuccessful effort to see out a 1-0 win. Such an apparent departure from Guardiola's principles led some to question if he was moving away from the formula that he has had so much success with, having spoken last season about City's need to keep up with the teams playing 'modern football'.

Guardiola accepted that Arsenal were better on the day but rubbished the idea that he no longer values possession, and went as far as to say that City's display was following the same Johan Cruyff instructions that had guided the rest of his career.

"When we won the Premier League we were a boring team, right? So that's why I said 'okay, I'm going to make counter attacks more this season'" he joked.