Guardiola follows the Messi model with Ferran Torres

F erran Torres has made an impressive start to life at Manchester City. The 20-year-old has started each of the last two games under Pep Guardiola in an unfamiliar position.

In the absence of the injured pairing of Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus, the former Valencia man has filled in as a false No.9, which echoes a similar change that Lionel Messi underwent under Guardiola at Barcelona.

The Argentine was first deployed as a false No.9 during Barcelona 's 6-2 win over Real Madrid at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu in 2009, with Samuel Eto'o and Thierry Henry playing either side of him.

" Pep told me that he'd watched Real Madrid a lot, that he'd spoken to Tito [Vilanova] and that I was going to play as a false No.9," Messi told DAZN about the move. "The idea was that the Real Madrid centre-backs would follow me and the two wingers could get in behind them. It was a surprise for us and Real Madrid.

"I'd never played as a central striker, but I knew that position. It was about going from playing deeper to playing further forward without being a static No.9. It wasn't a big change for me. I knew what it took [to play in] that position, although I had been playing out wide for years before."

Without a natural striker to call upon, Guardiola opted to select Ferran in a false No.9 position during City 's Champions League win over Marseille. The Spanish international netted the visitors' opening goal at the Stade Velodrome.

" Ferran has settled really well," Guardiola said after the game. "He's not a striker, I would congratulate him and say thank you for making the effort to play in this position. He scored a goal.

"It's not easy as a striker playing a 4-5-1 because there are lots of players there and no space around so honestly it's not easy. But we don't have many options. Until Gabriel and Sergio come back, we don't have many so we have an alternative playing Ferran in this position."

On Saturday, Ferran repeated the trick, playing in a false No.9 position against Sheffield United, who played their regular back three. The Spaniard had more shots (five) than any of his teammates and, although he didn't score in the 1-0 win, he was one of City 's brightest sparks. Working under Guardiola seems to be improving his game.

"I'm looking forward to playing under Pep and learning from him," Ferran told MARCA when he joined City in the summer. "For me, it's a challenge adapting to his style and the rhythm of such an intense league as soon as possible, in order for me to develop my football and give my all."