Pep Guardiola has admitted David Silva has proved him wrong by becoming a success at Manchester City.
The Spaniard will make his 400th appearance for the club if he features against Bournemouth on Sunday.
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Silva has won 10 major honours in 10 seasons at the Etihad including four Premier League titles, but Guardiola said he was worried the midfielder might flop in England when he swapped Valencia for City in 2010 because of his small stature.
"My image of England from the outside, I thought: "Maybe he's going to suffer," Guardiola told a news conference on Friday.
"But I was happily, happily wrong. That was my first impression.
"I think it's his character. With his specific qualities, surviving in the Premier League is not easy for a long time. He did it. He should be so proud of what he has done."
City will travel to Bournemouth without John Stones, who missed the draw with Tottenham because of a muscle injury.
Oleksandr Zinchenko is fit after suffering cramp against Spurs but the game will come too early for Benjamin Mendy, who has returned to training after recovering from a knee injury.
Silva, club captain this season, was left on the bench against Tottenham but the 33-year-old is set for a recall at the Vitality Stadium.
"I admire him [Silva] a lot," said Guardiola. "To do 400 games means many years, many bad moments, many good moments and being there day-by-day, week-by-week. I admire it a lot.
"You can make a good season but he's done it for almost 10 seasons.
"It's just incredible, big congratulations. I think for all the City fans and supporters, me included, it's a privilege what he has done at this club.
"Hopefully the last season that he is going to be here he can help us achieve, or at least be who he is and play the way he wants to play."