Returning to the Allianz Arena for the first time since taking up his new post in Manchester, Pep watched his team go down to a narrow 1-0 defeat to his old employers.
Despite the result, there were a number of positives that Pep was eager to point to, including the performances of some of his younger players.
“I am so happy, we did many things we spoke about well and in the right moment - that’s why we cannot forget which team we played.” Guardiola told journalists in a joint post-match press conference with Bayern’s new boss, Carlo Ancelotti.
“In the second half we played with a little more intensity and I’m really satisfied with what we did because we’ve only been together for two weeks.
“Bayern Munich is always a difficult opponent but we have to grow and get better. I think we have to play games like against Bayern Munich in order to learn and develop more – to get better.
“We have many young players in the team and you’ve seen them here – all in all, I’m satisfied with what they’ve shown me.”
Next up for City, it’s Manchester United in the Bird’s Nest Stadium in Beijing – another tricky assignment but Guardiola wouldn’t have it any other way.
The new boss believes that playing against elite opposition is the only way to accelerate this squad’s development.
“You have to make mistakes to get better – when you play against second or third division teams you can’t see them but you can when you play against quality teams like Bayern,” he reasoned.
“They had 8 or 9 top players and we had a lot of young players on the pitch in the first half.
“We had Pablo Maffeo and Angelino who played amazing and of course, Brandon Barker and Zinchenko. We need time and these games to see their level and if, during the season, we can use them.”
Quizzed on the potential of Leroy Sane becoming City’s next transfer acquisition, Pep admitted that he was interested in adding the German international to the ranks but said that a deal will be difficult to strike.
He added: “Sane is a player of Schalke. Of course we talk to him – Schalke knows we are interested but at this moment we don’t have many possibilities to get him.
“There’s a difference between City and Schalke and it’s quite big but I don’t know what’s going to happen in the coming weeks and months.”
