Guardiola’s style the perfect fit for Nolito

His double may have arrived on a mild afternoon rather than a cold night in Stoke – but Nolito admits his transition into Premier League football has been smooth so far thanks to Pep Guardiola.

The Spanish forward has taken immediately to life at Manchester City, having got off the mark against Steaua Bucharest last week before scoring a brace from the bench at Stoke.

City did not have it all their own way at the Bet365 Stadium – the Potters were in the ascendancy after Bojan pulled one back early in the second half – before Nolito slammed the door shut.

(Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

And while Guardiola is busy imprinting his high-pressing game at the Etihad Stadium, Nolito says he is already accustomed to his new manager’s demands.

“We are all picking up the concepts of Guardiola, and I am here because I know his style of play,” said Nolito, who City stumped up £13.8m for to take him away from Celta Vigo. “It is not always easy – the conditions at Stoke weren’t good and it was tough for us, but we did it and that is the important thing.

“We hear a lot of thing from the fans and from the press, but we will always try to play our way, no matter what the conditions in any stadium.

“Sometimes we can, sometimes we can’t depending on our opposition – but we must just try to win.”