PEP GUARDIOLA has vowed not to let Jose Mourinho rekindle their bitter feud as the superstar managers prepare to lock horns in the Premier League
The new Manchester City boss is on collision course with his nemesis Mourinho, who has taken charge across town at Manchester United.
But the Spaniard used his first public appearance as City boss yesterday, in front of thousands of fans yesterday at the club's Academy Stadium, to insist he is far more interested in bringing his brand of football to City than stand-offs with Mourinho.
Guardiola, who has signed a three-year deal to replace Manuel Pellegrini at the Etihad. said: "The most important thing in football is that people don't come to the stadium to see how good the manager is.
"They come to see how good our players are.
"It's not just this year – there have been many, many good managers in the Premier League, with Jose, with Jurgen Klopp, with Antonio Conte, with Claudio Ranieri, with Mauricio Pochettino, with Ronald Koeman. The reason I am here is just to help the players."
Guardiola's long-running rivalry with Mourinho reached its peak when they went head-to-head for glory in Spain.
He quit Barcelona in 2012 after facing two years of increasingly bad-tempered spats with Mourinho, who was in charge at Real Madrid.
The low point came during a Spanish Super Cup match in 2011, when Mourinho was captured on film poking Barca's then-assistant boss Tito Vilanova in the eye during a touchline brawl.
But while Guardiola appears determined no to let Mourinho get under his skin this time around, he has already been busy trying to ensure his side will not be coming out second best to their rivals across Manchester.
Determined to improve ateam that only just scraped into the fourth and final Champions League qualification spot last season, Guardiola has already signed Germany midfielder Ilkay Gundogan from Borussia Dortmund for £20m and Spain winger Nolito from Celta Vigo for £13.8m.
He has also brought in former Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta, who retired in May after five years at the Emirates Stadium, as one of four assistant coaches.
Domenec Torrent, who was Guardiola's assistant at Bayern Munich, has also joined City along with former Barca youth coach Rodolfo Borrell, while Brian Kidd remains part of the coaching staff.
The new boss knows City's players well – having faced them four times in the Champions League during his three years at Bayern.
But he warned they have to prove themselves all over again now he is in charge.
"I know the players," said Guardiola. "I know their quality but they have to show me, show the fans again.
"The past is the past. The people don't come here to remember what we did. We are here to try again.
"I don't want the guys to think about what the club can do for them. We are here to make Manchester City a better club in the next three, four, five years.
"First I have to meet my players and get to know them. I have to hug them, kick their arse and then, after that, I need time to know them. I have an idea how I want them to play, but I need time."
Meanwhile, City striker Kelechi Iheanacho will have to give up on his Olympic dream to focus on impressing Guardiola.
The 19-year-old striker was selected in Nigeria's 35-man provisional squad for the football tournament at next month's games in Rio de Janeiro.
But City have made clear he will not be going because Guardiola wants him to have a full pre-season.
Iheanacho said: "If your country wants to play for them you surely have to go, but it's not up for me to decide."
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