Cape Town - Cape Town City coach Benni McCarthy has claimed his team is adapting to his methods, pointing out that the same process needed to happen for Pep Guardiola.
Sixth-placed Cape Town City trail Premiership leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, who have a game in hand, by nine points.
However, thanks to a 1-0 win over Orlando Pirates, they earned themselves a date with the Brazilians in the Nedbank Cup quarter-finals on April 1.
McCarthy feels his charges are showing signs of progress, likening them to Guardiola's Manchester City, who lead the Premier League by 16 points after finishing third in his first season.
"It took Pep Guardiola how long to get Manchester City to play how they are playing now?" asked McCarthy, according to Kick Off.
"He was there a full season (last year), and I don't think they played as convincingly as they are now. The players take time to adapt to what you really want, and how clear you are.
"And OK‚ initially we played‚ and there was a structure that I wanted us to play‚ but it wasn't always as convincing and as nice as it is now.
"We played on adrenaline because everybody wanted to prove a point and impress me.
"Now as time goes by‚ every single day, the players get an idea that I'm not the running kind of coach. I'm not someone who makes the players do 'doggies', 400m sprints and 200m sprints.
"Me, every single day, it's football - they hardly run."
Having missed out on MTN8 glory in a heartbreaking penalty shootout loss to SuperSport United in the final, McCarthy will be hoping to land his first piece of silverware as coach in the Nedbank Cup.