Pep Guardiola is expecting to face an ‘intense’ Bournemouth this weekend as City head to the south coast.

We face the Cherries on Saturday, with a 17:30 (UK time) kick-off.

Guardiola believes Gary O’Neil’s team will provide tough opposition at the Vitality Stadium.

He said: “I saw many things I like about Bournemouth.

“They got good results. The game against Wolves. They draw against Newcastle, with how tough it is. The defeat against Brighton but in the last minute.

“They are so intense. If they do it away, imagine at home - so intense in high pressing. Really, really good.

“After they defend compact, they want to try and play in different shapes.

“They link really well with [Dominic] Solanke. [Philip] Billing has huge quality.

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“My people help me a lot to discover what they do and [I am] quite impressed.

“They do really good things.

“I had the feeling that this season until the end, for all the clubs not just for us, that all the games will be so tough. I don’t know why but that is the feeling I have this season, particularly.

Bournemouth is the fourth of five away matches in succession for City.

We beat Arsenal before successive draws at Nottingham Forest and Leipzig.

After the Cherries, we take on Bristol City in the FA Cup on Tuesday 28 February, kick-off 20:00 (UK time).

Guardiola has been paying close attention to the schedule, as he assesses his team week to week with so many games in a row on the road.

He added: “Aston Villa and after just three days go to Arsenal and then after three days Nottingham.

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“I was really impressed after a demanding game in London against Arsenal the way we play against Nottingham, how good it was and after three days go to Leipzig in Germany to play again a demanding game.

“It is a question to consider because our fatigue is there. Definitely. We have to take energy. I don’t know where but we have to do it.”

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