Pep Guardiola: 'Only Lionel Messi better than Kevin De Bruyne'

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has suggested that only Lionel Messi sits above playmaker Kevin De Bruyne in the best players that he has managed during his career.

City's coach was full of praise for the club's key midfielder following their 4-0 demolition of Bournemouth on Saturday, in a game in which De Bruyne opened the scoring.

"Messi is on a table on his own. No-one else is allowed. But the table beside, Kevin can sit there," Guardiola said after the game, according to BBC Sport.

"Kevin is an outstanding player. Without the ball he is the first fighter. With the ball he is clear. He sees absolutely everything.

"He makes the right decision in the right moment every single time."

De Bruyne now has 18 goals and 16 assists in 48 games for the Sky Blues.