MANCHESTER, England -- Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says Bournemouth were the best side he's faced in the Premier League this season.
City maintained their perfect start to the campaign with a 4-0 victory against the Cherries, but Guardiola was impressed by what he saw from Eddie Howe's side and rated them above even Manchester United, whom City beat 2-1 last Saturday.
"The important thing is we won a game just a few days after a Champions League game. The Champions League is so demanding in the physical condition but especially in the head so to come back again is not easy," he said.
"Bournemouth was until now the best team, who create more problems when they have the ball. The other teams play long balls and they want to play and our high pressing was not perfect.
"The quality of our players made the difference. I'm very pleased because I know against which team we won. [Joshua] King is a tough, tough striker and their wingers are so fast.
"We played serious again -- like a small team without the ball, which is what I like the most because people are so proud when their famous players run without the ball. And with the ball the quality of the players made the difference."
Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe didn't think his side were at their best and said they were punished by an excellent City side.
"It was a difficult day," he said. "Our plan wasn't to sit as deep as we did first half but we ended up getting trapped with nowhere to go.
"Fair play to them. They were better than us today. But I don't really look at the result, I look at the performance and overall I was disappointed. I feel we can do better than that.
"Yes, I give them a lot of credit for the way they played but I felt we could have done better without the ball and definitely better with the ball. We had our moments but didn't make the most of those opportunities and overall I leave here frustrated with the team."
England midfielder Jack Wilshere failed to impress on his first start since joining the Cherries on loan from Arsenal, conceding the free kick which led to City's opener and was substituted after 68 minutes.
"It was difficult for Jack," Howe said. "We want to see Jack in their half and in the final third but we didn't get there enough so to see his best qualities was impossible today.
"But the minutes will have done him the world of good and once he fully understands how we play and what we want him to do, I think he will be an excellent player for us."