Pep Guardiola insisted his compliments about Real Madrid are not him 'taking the p***' as he made a friendly joke about his former foes.

The Man City manager was in fine spirits before his side's Champions League quarter-final second leg clash against Los Blancos at the Etihad on Wednesday, which is live on talkSPORT2.

The reverse fixture played host to a pulsating 3-3 draw with the Spanish giants as ex-Barcelona manager and star Guardiola took on his old El Clasico foes.

But despite their history, Guardiola has now stated he is being genuine when he gives praise to Carlo Ancelotti's side, cracking an X-rated joke in the process.

With a smile on his face, Guardiola said at Tuesday's press conference: "I think it [was] an exceptional team last season, the previous one, this one.

"I know when I said good things about Madrid the people don't believe me in Madrid. They want to say some jokes or whatever, that people always believe I am taking the p***."