Pep Guardiola has insisted that Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne deserves to be crowned the PFA Player of the Year due to his consistency throughout the campaign.
The 26-year-old scored a 25-yard screamer in the Citizens' 5-0 win against Swansea City on Sunday afternoon to maintain his impressive form.
De Bruyne has now chipped in with eight goals in the top flight and has a further 15 assists to his name, leaving him as one of the favourites to win the annual award along with Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah.
Guardiola has little doubt who should be crowned the winner in this evening's ceremony, telling reporters after the Swansea victory: "I know my opinion about these awards so if he doesn't win, congratulations to the guy who is going to win but from my point of view when you are analysing nine months or 10 months then 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.
"But it is my opinion and the opinion of the players can be another one and 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."
Taking all competitions into account, De Bruyne has played a direct part in 31 goals this term.
Daniel Lewis
