Hans Backe is pleased with what he has seen so far in the first few days of his role as assistant manager at Manchester City.

Having made a swift return to his homeland for City’s two-match pre-season visit to Sweden, the former FC Copenhagen, Salzburg and Panathinaikos manager has spoken of what has found from working with the City squad over the last few days.

Hans said: “The players here are very lively and very focused, I suppose they have to be given that a new manager has taken over but I have been very pleased with them.

“You can see straight away that they like to train and that they have good habits and discipline. There is great intensity in the work that they do. English and Swedish mentalities are not too different when it comes to football.

“I will work on the pitch all the time. Sven will ultimately make the decisions about the way we play and the way we train but I will have my input.”

Hans has also recently worked as a highly respected pundit on Sweden’s TV4 station, but the lure of working in the Premier League was too great to resist.

He continues: “I have been a manager in my own right and people back in Sweden have been asking why I have decided to come here as a No 2 and the answer is simple: The Premier League. There are not many Scandinavian coaches who have had the opportunity to work abroad, let alone in a league that is famous all over the world and contains some of the biggest teams and greatest players.

“To get this job in the Premiership with City is as good as it gets for a Scandinavian coach. It’s one I simply couldn’t turn down and one I aim to make the most of.”