Pep Guardiola was glowing in his praise of Frank Lampard and Chelsea on Saturday night.
Manchester City had to work hard to beat the Blues at the Etihad Stadium.
Guardiola's side needed to come from behind to win an entertaining encounter 2-1.
N'Golo Kante had given the Blues the lead, but a deflected Kevin de Bruyne shot and a Riyad Mahrez effort secure the three points.
City were beaten in the possession stakes though, something that rarely happens, with Lampard's side enjoyed 53% of the ball away from home.
When asked why that was the case, Guardiola said: "They are so good, they are an incredible team."
High praise indeed.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Guardiola was asked to clarify those comments.
He added: "It's Chelsea! In the last 20 years, it's Chelsea, after United the last decade we were the best, but in the last 15 to 20 years it's Manchester United, Chelsea, Manchester United, Chelsea."
And Guardiola was asked further about those possession statistics and he believes it will not just be Chelsea who do that to his side this season as he warned Liverpool about the threat of the other teams to the established order.
"Before teams were just defending and using the counter attack," he said. "Now most of the teams have the courage to play, young managers, they have nice spirit, nothing to lose and go forward.
"That's why football is nice."
