Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said he has a lot of respect for United boss Jose Mourinho.
The Catalan will take his side to Old Trafford for the 2016/17 Premier League season's first Manchester derby on 10 September. The tension around the tie is high as managers Guardiola and Mourinho have had a long-standing rivalry dating back to their days in La Liga.
Both City and United have won their first three games in the ongoing season, which is only the second time in the Premier League history. The last time when they started with a hat-trick of wins was in the 2011/12 season, in which The Citizens won the title edging out their cross-city rivals on goal difference.
Guardiola maintained he is sharing a good relationship with Mourinho and that he would be more than ready to share a glass of wine with the Portuguese tactician on Saturday.
"I have said many times, I have a lot of respect for him. I always try to learn from all my colleagues and I learn from him as well," he was quoted as saying by Manchester Evening News.
"He was my coach, my assistant coach with Sir Bobby Robson (at Barca).
"The last meeting in Madrid, with Barcelona was not easy - but we met each other two or three weeks ago at the Premier League managers' dinner.
"We spoke fluently with Ronald Koeman, with Tony Pulis so it was okay."
City's Sergio Aguero and United's Zlatan Ibrahimovic share the honours at the top of the Premier League goal-scorers list. With the former missing out on the derby clash due to the three-match suspension he picked up after The Sky Blues' last game against West Ham United, the Swede is all set to the hog the limelight at Old Trafford.
While Ibrahimovic has lashed out his former Barcelona manager several times in the past, Guardiola seems to be aware of the impact the tall striker could have in the match.
"I have a lot of respect for Zlatan and what he has done in the football world and his career," the City manager added.
"He has had a big impact in what he did everywhere and he is amazing, especially on the pitch. I have a lot of respect for him, what he has done for football.
"He is one of the best players and the best players, they have an impact. The big players don't have to understand the league or need time."
