Guardiola backs De Bruyne for PFA award

De Bruyne is in the running to be named the PFA Player of the Year, but 41-goal Liverpool winger Mohamed Salah is expected to edge the top honour at Sunday's awards ceremony.

However, when questioned after City's 5-0 thrashing of Swansea City, Guardiola was quick to back De Bruyne's claims, insisting voting players should have looked beyond statistics.

"I know my opinion about these awards so, if [De Bruyne] doesn't win, congratulations to the guy who is going to win," Guardiola told a news conference.

"But from my point of view, when you are analysing nine months or 10 months, there was no player better than him. In terms of the continuity and playing every three days in all competitions, he was there.

"I am sorry, maybe with numbers, there are numbers guys better than him, but no player in this season, with the team who wins [the title] five games before the end. He was the best.

Guardiola continued: "It is my opinion and the opinion of the players can be another one. If that has happened, congratulations to the guy who is going to win - I would like to feel that he deserved it.

"But at the end, in summer time, we will be at home being champions and, for that to happen, the players have to play."