Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has proved critics wrong after building his team, says Shaun Wright-Phillips

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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has proved his critics wrong after being given time to build the squad he wanted, claims former star Shaun Wright-Phillips. 

The Spaniard came under fire after failing to win a trophy in his first season with many believing he could face the sack should that situation repeat itself at the end of the current campaign.

But after scoring 21 goals in six Premier League games and playing some stunning football on their way to the top of the table, Wright-Phillips believes it was always a matter of time before his City side thrived.

Pep Guardiola has started to prove his critics wrong after finally building his perfect team

Wright-Phillips, speaking exclusively to 888sport, said: 'For me, he has proved his critics wrong. He's now had the time to get the team that he wants, and mould them into his style of play. From the results you can clearly see what is happening.'

Among those to have starred during the early parts of the season is Raheem Sterling, who himself came under fierce criticism after failing to bring his best form with him from Liverpool.

Raheem Sterling has learned how to play in Guardiola's system and is now thriving

But after toughing it out, Sterling appears to have found a place in Guardiola's side and is one of the League's top scorers with five goals to show from his five appearances thus far.

On Sterling, Wright-Phillips said: 'Under Pep, he has improved a lot. Obviously when he was at Liverpool, they were a more direct playing team, while City play a lot more football, so to no longer just play off the shoulder he's come to learn the game. 

'He has settled in well after a bit of stick he was getting last year and it's nice to see him bounce back and silence the critics. 

'People don't understand sometimes how mentally hard it is and he has answered them in the right way; he didn't go out and do anything silly, but did his talking on the football pitch. Now he's in the spotlight for all the good things.'

David Silva is still Shaun Wright-Phillips' favourite player in the Manchester City squad

Wright-Phillips and Silva crossed paths at Manchester City towards the end of his time there

Sterling is not the only one thriving under the management of Guardiola; Kevin De Bruyne is also playing some of his best football following a £55million move from Wolfsburg in 2015. But while Wright-Phillips believes De Bruyne is world-class, he still feels David Silva is the main may at the Etihad.

He said: 'De Bruyne is unbelievable but my favourite player there is still David Silva. I had the privilege of playing with him and training with him. 

'He just makes it impossible to get the ball off him and he sees things three passes ahead. Everywhere I've been and everyone I speak to speaks very, very highly of him and about what a great player he is. He's just as nice off the pitch too.'

Read the full 888sport interview with Shaun Wright-Phillips, including his thoughts on who the greatest ever Premier League striker is.