Pep Guardiola says he’s looking forward to being back on the bench after sitting out the weekend Wolves defeat.

Guardiola was in the stands as City went down 2-1 at Molineux Stadium.

The boss had to serve a one-match suspension, which was triggered following three yellow cards picked up since the start of the season.

He’s relishing a return to the touchline with games away at RB Leipzig in the Champions League and Arsenal in the Premier League before the October international break kicks in.

“I like my profession to be with the players and the smell of the grass,” said Guardiola.

“Txiki [Begiristain] and Manel [Estiarte] were so nice but I prefer to be on the touchline.

“That’s why I have to control, I cannot do it again.”

While Guardiola is eager to avoid another ban, he knows that he wears his heart on his sleeve orchestrating proceedings from the technical area.

The boss stresses that he wouldn’t want to change that passionate personality trait.

“When I was a football player at Barcelona I was the least physical player ever and maybe I was one of the most booked players at Barcelona!

“Always that was because I talk and talk and talk and talk.

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“So now as a manager it’s the same – when I see something and believe an injustice or don’t like it, I say it.

“I have to control it, I understand – but when you see a few things you don’t like I will tell you.

“So I would love to avoid yellow cards and red cards. I would like to control and try to do it but I cannot assure 100 per cent I can control it.”