Former Manchester City midfielder Nigel de Jong insists Pep Guardiola has taken his old club to a "different level" since landing the job as manager.
Guardiola, who will be hoping to see his side get back to winning ways when they face Burnley at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon, took charge of the club in the summer of 2016 and soon implemented a winning mentality.
Since replacing Manuel Pellegrini in the managerial hot-seat more than five years ago, Guardiola has guided City to ten major trophies, including three Premier League titles.
As well as that, Guardiola became the first manager in the club's history to guide them to the final of the UEFA Champions League.
For De Jong, who spent three years at the Etihad Stadium, Guardiola has overseen a remarkable period, praising the way in which he has got City playing, plus certain factors off the pitch.
"Pep took City to a different level, the way he has them playing. I think that’s the big difference from back in the day," De Jong told City's club website.
"If you look at the technical abilities that he has, opportunities with a new training ground and the players coming in, better players now to bring in as well.
"The food, the diet, the way they live outside of football, the media that comes in and out, he’s bringing City to the stage of really competing internationally with the big teams.
"We couldn’t compete back then with the Barcelona’s and the Real Madrid’s. We were a little too far off but on the right way.
"But he really took them to that next stage of international recognition. That’s what I think he’s doing with City."
At Barcelona, Guardiola, who spent four years in charge of the Spanish heavyweights, won 14 trophies, meaning he is not too far away from reaching the same tally at City, even though it is the Champions League that remains their biggest ambition.
City reached the final of the competition last season, but were beaten 1-0 by Premier League rivals Chelsea in Portugal.
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