Jokanovic dismisses Pep copy claims

Cape Town - Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic has taken exception to being compared to Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola.

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Jokanovic's Cottagers are playing an impressing brand of passing football that has commentators drawing comparisons with Guardiola's side.

While Fulham kicked off their season with two defeats, the newly-promoted side have since beaten Burnley, and Exeter City in the League Cup, before drawing with Brighton.

City, meanwhile, who they face at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, have won all but one of their Premier League games, drawing 1-1 with Wolves before beating Newcastle last time out.

Ahead of facing the Citizens, Jokanovic said: "I don't use his style, I use my style and my players.

"We cannot compare, he's one of the most successful managers, he showed similar style and it's possible to play the way his team [do] in this competition. All the credit for him, he made a really important step for this game.

"But copying is normally bad – copy, and it's not easy to catch this level that they show us is possible. We try to find our way and adapt ourselves and interpret what we can do to have the opportunity to win the game."

He added: "I am a young manager and will have many tests. This is one important game. This team has been built [over] a few years and have spent less money than us this window but because they spent before. I expect we will be successful and spend less next season.

"We need to adapt ourselves for the Premier League. There's a great history behind this team, and they are making the steps to be competitive in the Champions League."