Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola admits some of his tactics did not benefit Alexis Sanchez during their time together at Barcelona.
Guardiola will come up against Sanchez and his Arsenal teammates when City host the Gunners on Sunday afternoon in a heavyweight clash that can be labelled as must-win for both sides now that Chelsea have opened up a nine-point lead following their 11th straight victory on Saturday.
Sanchez was signed by Guardiola at Barcelona in 2011 and although the pair won theUEFA Super Cup, Supercopa de Espana, Club World Cup and the Copa del Rey together, Guardiola admits that the Chilean attacker did not flourish under him at the Camp Nou.
All eyes turn to @Arsenal's @Alexis_Sanchez... ï‘€ pic.twitter.com/XGiEo9DerW
"Alexis has played in Chile and in Italy with Udinese and played really well in Barcelona,"
Guardiola said of Sanchez, who is enjoying playing as a central attacker under Arsene Wenger.
"It is normal when you play with Messi that people think that he is not at his level, as the highlight is always Leo.But Alexis helped us a lot and played well. I think the position that he is in now, as a striker, is perfect for him, it suits him perfectly.
"In Barcelona maybe I didn't help him too much as I like the wingers wide, and he can do that but he plays more between the lines closer to the goal.
Alexis Sanchez has been involved in 27 goals in his last 27 #PL apps for Arsenal - 19 goals and 8 assists#MCIARS pic.twitter.com/NTtJXgZkXd
"Some of the moments when he played as a striker, especially one game against Chelsea in the Champions League semi-final when we lost in London 1-0, he played as a striker in the second leg and we went 2-0 up.
"It was an unlucky game, we lost and Chelsea arrived in the final. He played there, so he is a player that can play in several positions: left, right, central. He is a fighter with character and spirit, and he is a winner.
"He is a class, class player but now I think he is playing really well. With Chile he has won two South American cups, that shows what a good player he is."