MANCHESTER, England -- Pep Guardiola has hailed the impact of Aleksandar Kolarov but the Manchester City defender is not getting carried away by his impressive start to the season.
Kolarov, 30, was rumoured to have his place under threat following the arrival of Guardiola. But he has been switched to centre-back for two of City's opening games of the season and has thrived in the new role.
Guardiola was full of praise ahead of Sunday's 3-1 victory over West Ham, telling a news conference "it is hard to find a centre back better than him."
"I don't agree that I am revitalised -- I always did my job properly," Kolarov told reporters. "It doesn't matter what the papers are saying, I am doing my job in my seventh year here. That's it.
"It's always good when a manager says nice things about you, but I am professional and do what the manager asks of me. I am taking the moment and the team is doing well -- we have won all the games.
"But it's just the start of the season and we now have an international break. We have to be focused every day on what we are doing, and be ready for the derby against Manchester United [on Sept. 10].
"It's a different kind of football and at the moment we are happy with him, but it's just the start of the season and there are a lot of games to play."
Kolarov's success at centre-half could see fellow defenders Eliaquim Mangala and Jason Denayer leave the club before the transfer window closes on Wednesday -- either on loan or in permanent deals.
Neither have featured in any of City's first five games of the season despite an injury to captain Vincent Kompany and a slight knock to Nicolas Otamendi.
Kolarov has deputised in their position and says he has enjoyed his start to the season.
"[Guardiola] wants that we have a lot of possession, we press high -- we are happy with what we are doing, but it is only a start," he added. "The players have to be fit because the season is long.
"On the first day when we came in for preseason he tried me in that position. Like other players -- our full backs are coming inside -- we have to listen to what the manager wants. I have never played in that position before. I was a midfielder early in my career.
"But the first thing is the team and I am glad we won three points. At this club we have to win titles, and it doesn't matter who is going to play, or which position.
"I am enjoying it because we have a lot of possession and I have more of the ball than in the fullback positions. So I am happy to play there."
City head into the international break on top of the Premier League on goal difference after making a perfect start to the season with three wins out of three, as well as winning both legs of their Champions League playoff against Steaua Bucharest.
They travel to Old Trafford on their return to face Jose Mourinho's United, who also have a 100 percent record and Kolarov says it will be a huge match.
"It's a big game, not just for the city, but for the world," he said. "Two new managers at the clubs, and I'm looking forward to playing in the game."