Guardiola was at Barcelona before leading the German Munich force to three titles.
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It has been a close season of significant upheaval at City, who have also re-designed their club crest, and Kevin De Bruyne has warned that it will take time for Guardiola’s methods to take effect.
The former Manchester United defender said: “At global level, if you look at the last two tournaments, we haven’t had a player who can bring the ball out of defence, who can put his foot on the ball and go, “Right, let me control it a little bit or step into midfield”.
“We have done that in the past, why not now?” added Borini, who is raring to go.
“I’ve been at this club for so long and Manchester has been a fantastic place for me to be, especially playing for this great football club”.
“To create something, we need time, to create something with ideas to attack we need time”, he said.
They are a best-priced 33/1 to retain their crown and, while that is highly unlikely, they will still be very hard to beat week, in week out.
Borini believes City are title favourites – just – but is adamant Sunderland are capable of coming away with a result, despite slow progress in the transfer market.
Returning to Manchester with a little less fanfare is Sunderland’s David Moyes, who filled the vacancy at the Stadium of Light after Sam Allardyce was appointed England coach.
Borini, though, is confident Sunderland are capable of competing in the top flight and says yet another managerial change hasn’t disrupted the preparations.
“As everybody knows, we finished last season with a good record and the new manager is trying to start this year as we ended the last”.
“If you are focused on the pitch and what you need to do then it doesn’t matter what else happens”. In the Champions League when you play against the best teams you have to give your best and perform well enough to win that competition.
There are new faces and new clubs that deserve some welcoming to their new surroundings in the best professional soccer league on the planet. And the new City boss admitted he will reduce the size of his squad before the transfer window shuts.
“It is going to be fine”.
Sunderland striker Jermain Defore has recovered from a thigh strain in time to feature, while new signings Papy Djilobodji, Donald Love and Paddy McNair could make their debuts.
“It’s a small squad at the moment but small squads have worked together well in the past, although we know that we definitely need to make additions to it”.
“To create something we need time”.
“With his ability to build up (play), with his intelligence to read the next step, the next pass, behind the line, I think he is a good, good, good player so we are happy to have him”, Guardiola said.
Now he has made it clear to Hart that he has to prove himself if he wants to remain in the team.
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“Everyone came back pretty fit, the staff maybe were not expecting that and it is easier to work from a good base. So I think at adaptation level, he’s not a new player – he’s just a kid back home again”.
