City are Prime

Sarri is facing Courtois crunch

free and that’s great news. He scored two goals but could have scored three or four.”

Guardiola also paid tribute to 18-year-old academy midfielder Phil Foden.

“Phil is a player of the first team,” he said. “So he has the same chances like Kevin de Bruyne, David Silva, Ilkay Gundogan, all the midfield players that we have – the same one. “

Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri, meanwhile, sent a message to goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid. Sarri will today order the Belgian to tell him to his face if he wants to quit the club before Thursday’s transfer deadline.

Courtois returns to training today after his three-week post-World Cup break. With just a year left on his contract, Chelsea know they must sell him this month or risk losing him for free next summer.

And Sarri yesterday dismissed comments from Courtois’ agent, Christophe Henrotay, calling on Chelsea to accept an offer from Real Madrid.

Sarri said: “I have no reaction on the agent. I am not interested in the agent. I want to hear from Courtois.

“If Courtois says the same tomorrow I have to speak with my club of course, because I want only players with a very high level of motivation. But I have nothing to add to the agent.”

After seeing his side outclassed by City, Sarri – who will also hold talks with Eden Hazard over his future today – admitted his men face a race against time to be ready for their opening Premier League game at Huddersfield on Saturday.

He said: “In the first half it was not too bad. The second half was a difference from the physical point of view.

“We have to work. Our pre-season has been a bit crazy so we have to work.” SEASON THREE of Guardiola in the Premier League promises to be the best yet.

The same, sensational serial thrillers with even more Pep and – in £60million Riyad Mahrez and the outstanding Phil Foden – more freshness and fearsome strength in depth.

Amazon Prime may be preparing to give us a behindthe-scenes glimpse at the procession Manchester City turned the title race into last season.

But, judging by the hunger and desire oozing from the champions to brush Chelsea aside here, Guardiola and his