ANDRES INIESTA TIPS PEP GUARDIOLA TO RULE THE PREMIER LEAGUE

Pep Guardiola will adapt to life in the Premier League to bring success to Manchester City, according to Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta.

Former Barca coach Guardiola has made a perfect start to life at the Etihad, winning his first five games in charge and sitting on top of the Premier League.

He faces his biggest test of the season so far on Saturday when City take on Manchester United at Old Trafford without suspended striker Sergio Aguero.

Iniesta worked under Guardiola during his first four seasons at the Camp Nou and says the coach will quickly get used to life in England.

The Spain international also believes Guardiola has helped his cause by recruiting well over the summer -- both on and off the pitch.

"Pep knows how to adapt and I'm sure he'll do so in England," Iniesta said in his book "The Artist," as reported by The Guardian. "He's also got staff like Mikel Arteta who'll help that process, who know the league.

"City have signed well and have a very competitive squad. I know Nolito well because he was a teammate here at Barcelona and with Spain. He's had a great start and hopefully can continue. I've admired David Silva for years: I think he's exceptional.

"Players learn day to day, from experience, teammates and managers. I learnt a lot with Pep; he helped me to improve and he'll do the same at City."

Guardiola has already shown a ruthless side by dropping England goalkeeper Joe Hart before allowing him to leave on a season-long loan with Torino.

City have since spent £13.5 million to bring in Claudio Bravo from Barca and the Chile international could make his debut in the Manchester derby.

Iniesta says that Guardiola has always regarded the goalkeeping position as a vital one and wanted his No. 1s to contribute more than simply making saves.

"Yes, he's always been important for us, another player: when the ball comes out from deep, depending on whether your opponents have one or two [forwards], the goalkeeper plays," the 32-year-old added. "He allows you to have numerical superiority."