Pep Guardiola says Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth are a clever, intelligent side.

The City boss says Saturday’s clash will be a tough 90 minutes, citing back to the meeting last November at the Etihad.

Though the Blues won that game 6-1, Guardiola says the way the Cherries played after the break is proof of how quickly they can adapt to any challenges presented.

“It is always a difficult game because of the way they play,” said Pep.

“It will be completely different to when we played at the Etihad.

“When we played Bournemouth [on that occasion], in the second half they changed completely, the players understood what he wanted and played really well.

“They are completely alive, aggressive, and well organised. They are a good team.”

Andoni Iraola endured a difficult start to life as Bournemouth boss, failing to win any of his first nine Premier League games.

But since then, the Cherries have lost just four of their past 15 matches, winning seven and drawing four.

Though their home form has not been fantastic – just three wins from 10 and 12 goals scored – Guardiola rates Iraola highly.

MATCH PREVIEW | CITY V BOURNEMOUTH

Asked if he felt the Spaniard was doing well, he said: “Absolutely. He did an incredible job in Spain.

“They won at Old Trafford, played really well against Spurs and at Newcastle they were amazing. So direct.

“It will be a really tough game tomorrow and we will focus on that and then the next ones.

“When you have a schedule like this one and many years of playing every three days in different competitions, the best way is thinking only about the next game – Bournemouth - and the rest will come. 

“What will happen, will happen.”