Pep Guardiola couldn't hide his delight at his centre-back pairing of Ruben Dias and Abdukodir Khusanov in the win at Tottenham.

City kept a clean sheet despite some second half Tottenham pressure and just about held on for a huge win that significantly boosts their Champions League qualification hopes.

Guardiola accepted that Spurs had the better of the second half and insisted City should have killed off the contest before the break when they were dominant.

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Yet with Erling Haaland converting a move that involved Jeremy Doku, Savinho, Omar Marmoush and Nico Gonzalez, Guardiola agreed that City saw a tempting glimpse into their future in North London.

"For sure is the future. We have a young young team. The three up front is the future," he beamed. "Nico and when Rodri comes back is the future. Of course Khusanov, you see it today. Josko [Gvardiol] is young."

In further praise of his defensive players, Guardiola raved about Ederson's match-winning save in the second half and heaped superlatives on youngster Khusanov and the recalled Dias. However he also pointed to Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden for restoring control and helping to see out the win, insisting that for all of the looks towards a new era, the old guard still have a part to play.

He said: "Eddy was good, defenders were good. Khusanov and Ruben were extraordinary. Matheus [Nunes] and Josko again were good.

"Bernardo, Phil when they come on make a step forward, they were more aggressive and [Spurs] struggle more. Bernardo, Gundogan, Kevin are really important for us. Of course it's a question of time. This season, the young players and the new acquisitions the club will make in the next transfer windows have to lead this club for the next years.

"Never this season will be old city. The old city was too good. But we'll be back."