Pep Guardiola is embarking on his first season in English football as manager of Manchester City, and he’ll be pretty happy with how his side have performed three months into the season.

City are third in the Premier League having won seven of their opening 11 league games, although they have only won one of their last five.

They started the Guardiola era with ten straight wins in all competitions, but then suffered a frustrating six-game winless run, including their only league defeat so far at Tottenham, and a 4-0 hammering away at Barcelona.

Nevertheless, City got their own back on the Spanish champions with a sensational 3-1 win at the Etihad last week, but they were unable to build on their impressive victory by only drawing 1-1 at home to Middlesbrough on Saturday.

Nonetheless, they are just two points adrift of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, and Guardiola will likely be satisfied with his first few months in charge at City.

With City having started well, we identify the best Manchester City XI after 11 Premier League games…

GK – Claudio Bravo

After making a far from ideal start to life in English football, there have been signs of improvement from Claudio Bravo.

He was hopeless on his debut against Manchester United and, for a goalkeeper brought in because he can use hit feet, he looked poor and uncomfortable with such feet, as evidenced by his red card against Barcelona a few weeks ago.

However, he made a couple of key saves against Middlesbrough last weekend, and is beginning to settle into the team, which should make his passing and footwork crisper and more effective.

Guardiola has trust in him, and he’ll be City’s number one for the season.

RB – Pablo Zabaleta

Full-back has been an area of struggle for City this season, but Pablo Zabaleta just gets the nod ahead of Bacary Sagna at right-back, despite the Frenchman’s good start to the campaign.

Guardiola’s trial of a back three a few weeks back suggests that he’s not overly comfortable with his right-back options, but Zabaleta has played the last few games and performed solidly.

Sagna looked decent for City in the first few months but, even when he has returned to fitness, he may to have wait to get a chance in the first team.

CB – Nicolas Otamendi

Nicolas Otamendi received a lot of criticism when he first moved to City last year because his performances were not good enough for a player of his quality.

However, he seems to have been reborn under Guardiola, and is arguably the first-choice centre-back at the club ahead of John Stones and the injury-prone Vincent Kompany.

A defender who’s powerful, strong in the tackle, and solid in the air, Otamendi has adapted to Guardiola’s style brilliantly by being more controlled and resilient at the back, instead of rash like he was at times in the past.

He has also improved his ball retention and passing, and could be an important part of the City defence for years to come.

CB – John Stones

John Stones is clearly a very talented defender who could go on and become a great one, and Guardiola is the best man to take him to that level.

The England international is always looking to pick a pass or retain the ball which, at times, has contributed to an opposition goal, like against Southampton, but it’s the way Guardiola wants him to play, and it’s the way Stones needs to play to reach his potential.

He’s a ball-playing defender, and the only way he’s going to get better at it is by continuing to play that way, even if errors are made.

Yes, Stones has possibly made one too many errors so far, but being undeterred in his and Guardiola’s ways are going to make him a better footballer in the long run.

LB – Aleksandar Kolarov

As much as Aleksandar Kolarov is far from the best defender the Premier League has ever seen, he has done alright at City this season.

Although he was poor against Tottenham back in September, the Serbian clearly retains the backing of his manager, given that only Stones has played more matches than Kolarov this season.

An incredible left foot and set-piece specialist, the 30-year-old gives City something else going forward and, although he’ll likely leave in the summer, he can do a job for Guardiola this season.

CDM – Fernandinho

It’s surprising that City have yet to tie Fernandinho down to a new deal yet given his contract is up in the summer.

The Brazilian has been excellent for the Manchester club since arriving in 2013, and has settled into Guardiola’s team seamlessly his since appointment at the Etihad.

A player who breaks things up in the middle but also looks to get forward and launch attacks, the 31-year-old is important to this City team, and is clearly Guardiola’s main man in that defensive midfield role.

RM – Raheem Sterling

Raheem Sterling has been reborn under Guardiola this season, and is beginning to look like the player City bought from Liverpool at the start of last season.

The England international struggled to make an impact last time out under Manuel Pellegrini, but has been given the confidence from Guardiola to do what he does best on the field – take defenders on.

Sterling has been widely regarded as a confidence player, and when he is full of confidence, he’s a nightmare to defend against. That’s the Sterling we’ve seen so far this season.

CM – Ilkay Gundogan

Injuries thwarted the first few weeks of Ilkay Gundogan’s Man City career but, now he’s fully fit and in the side, he’s not going to lose his place any time soon.

The German international, who signed from Borussia Dortmund in the summer, has five goals and one assist in all competitions this season, and produced a scintillating display in City’s victory over Barcelona in the Champions League.

However, it’s his all-round play which has been most impressive, as he is able to combine the robustness of a defensive midfielder with the creativity and flair of the attackers – he’s got everything.

Gundogan will be hugely important in City’s bid for the title this season.

CM – David Silva

Technically brilliant with the ability to carve through defences, David Silva would be an asset to any Premier League team.

The Spanish international keeps the ball moving and is always looking at how he can find the frontman, or release the wingers out wide.

Two assists this season doesn’t do justice the performances he has put in so far but, given his 59 Premier League assists in his career, he’s going to play a big part for City as the season progresses.

LM – Kevin De Bruyne

How good has Kevin De Bruyne been since returning to the Premier League with City.

An outcast at Chelsea, the Belgium international has been sensational for the Manchester club since arriving in 2015 from German side Wolfsburg.

Two goals and six assists in the Premier League this season, added to his seven strikes and nine assists last season, demonstrate a player reborn after a spell away from England, and ready to help City fight for major honours.

His delivery for Sergio Aguero’s goal against Middlesbrough epitomises De Bruyne’s quality in his year at City, and there will be plenty more to come from the 25-year-old over the coming months.

ST – Sergio Aguero

There aren’t many better strikers in world football than Sergio Aguero.

He may have had a dry spell in front of goal earlier in the season, and was left out of City’s team to face Barcelona at the Nou Camp, but he’s still scored 14 goals in 15 games this season.

Overall, the Argentine has netted 110 goals in 159 Premier League games, and has consistently been one of the best forwards in the league over the last five years.

His display against West Brom at the end of October was sensational, with both goals he scored out of the top drawer.

Keeping him fit is going to be crucial for City this season.