Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola claimed he is ‘not here to entertain’ after his side destroyed Stoke City 7-2 at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

Two goals from Gabriel Jesus and one each for Raheem Sterling, David Silva, Fernandinho, Leroy Sane and Bernardo Silva saw City move two points clear of Manchester United at the top of the Premier League.

The win also saw City become the first team to score 29 goals in their first eight top-flight matches in a season since Everton back in 1894-95, and prolonged their unbeaten run to 16 games in all competitions.

But Guardiola insists it was the result that mattered, even though he accepted it was probably the club’s best performance since he took charge last year.

‘I am here to win, I am not here to entertain,’ he said.

‘This is the way we want to play. Our confidence is high. Everybody believes we are going to win.

‘We know each other more, I know my players more, the league more and the other teams more.

‘We can always do better, but I cannot deny that today was the best performance since I arrived here.’

Kevin De Bruyne marked his 100th appearance for City with a scintillating display in which he claimed two assists and played a key role in two further goals.

Guardiola says the Belgium international is ‘by far’ one of the leading players in the world.

‘He is a guy that is so dynamic and can control the game,’ he said. ‘He is a big talent and made a good performance. He is one of the best, by far.’