GUARDIOLA TAKES AIM AT STAMFORD

OLD PALS' ACT Guardiola and Maresca worked together at City

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FROM BACK PAGE Instead, in the opposite dugout will be Chelsea's U-21s coach Calum McFarlane, taking charge of his first match at senior level.

Guardiola did not care for more questions about his own future, given claims City had spoken to Maresca before his Chelsea exit, but is grateful for the support he has received from his bosses after a particularly difficult patch last season

He said: “Chelsea have always been dangerous and the Premier League is dangerous every game.

“All I can say is that from my point of view, Chelsea have lost an incredible manager and an incredible person.

“It's a decision from the Chelsea hierarchy so I've nothing to say.