Guardiola claims ‘special player’ De Bruyne is only second to Messi at one key attribute ahead of Belgian’s last game at Etihad | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola has lauded “unique” Kevin De Bruyne as one of the best he’s ever seen, ahead of the Belgian’s final appearance at the Etihad Stadium.

De Bruyne has spent ten years with Manchester City, winning every available trophy alongside a host of individual accolades. However, the midfielder will exit the club when his contract expires this summer.

As the architect of the tiki taka style of play, Guardiola is famous for his passing football. Asked if he has worked with anyone that can pass the ball as well as De Bruyne does, the Catalan revealed: “It is difficult to find (his ability). He is one of the best three I’ve ever seen. That I ever played with or dealt with.

“One is Messi. And the other? Let me think about it… Okay. Put Kevin second.”

City’s boss continued: “I said Messi is the best I have ever seen because Messi has done it really, really close to the box. But Kevin is there.

“So it’s the stats, the goals, the assists, what they provide to the team in the final third. The talent.

“Even last game he made two or three passes again, one player in front of the keeper. That is unique. It’s unique.

“That’s why he has been one of the best players in this club’s whole history. I use big, big words because he has been a special player.”

After a decade playing at the Etihad stadium, Tuesday night’s match against Bournemouth will be De Bruyne’s final home game for City. An emotional farewell is to be expected but the game is also crucial to City’s hunt for Champions League qualification.

A defeat could be a fatal blow to City’s Champions League hopes with just one more Premier League game remaining after that and Guardiola insisted: “Kevin wants us to win the game and qualify for the Champions League for next season. This is what Kevin wants.

On the emotions of the night, he added: “Maybe it can be positive. The emotions and something special for all of them, they can do it. So it can be positive.”

With the Belgian’s departure looming ever closer, the natural question is who his successor will be. City’s manager admitted: “There are players that it is really, really, really difficult to replace. Really, really difficult for many, many reasons.

“We know that. But the season we have done is the season we have done and we cannot deny it. And of course we have to move forward.”