Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola believes Kevin De Bruyne must be in with a chance to win the Ballon d’Or this year
PEP GUARDIOLA believes Kevin De Bruyne must be in with a shout for the Ballon d'Or this year.
But in order to be recognised as the best player in the world, he must make an impression in the Champions League.
Manchester City resume their European campaign in Switzerland tomorrow night against Basel looking to make it past the last 16 for only the second time.
And Guardiola reckons KDB needs to make his mark on the competition if he is to challenge Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar.
Asked if his £54million star should be in the frame, Guardiola said: “No doubt. It’s not one game.
“It’s the whole season every three days playing that way. Every three days.
“He knows and everyone knows to be there you have to win titles and titles and titles.”
The signs are promising — De Bruyne’s three assists in Saturday’s 5-1 drubbing of Leicester means he has created 77 goals since he burst on to the scene five years ago.
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That is more than anyone in Europe’s top five leagues — including Guardiola’s old favourite Messi.
However, the former Barcelona chief knows better than anyone that KDB has to produce on the biggest stage of all.
The Spanish coach, 47, added: “The Champions League? Of course. You have to be there in the latter stages. Without the latter stages you will not be nominated.”
City were dumped out at this stage by Monaco last season — the first time that Guardiola has failed to reach at least the semi-finals in his managerial career.
He has warned his players their outstanding Premier League form — where their only loss was the 4-3 thriller at Anfield — will not count for much on the European stage.
But they are red-hot favourites to get past Basel and book their place in the quarter-finals yet Guardiola is taking nothing for granted.
He said: “We arrive in a good way but we have to know the Champions League is another competition — it is completely different.
“Champions League is how you control the bad moments and the emotions. We scored six goals last season in the last 16 and were out.
“If the 10 minutes that happen at Anfield last month, happen in the Champions League we are out. We will not go through.
“The deal is not to look forward but try to get into the quarter-finals for a second time and go through — what we were not able to do last season.
“The next step forward from last season is to achieve the quarter-finals. That is our only concern.
“Against Basel we try to make two good games and do it better than last season — hopefully this time we can go through.”
Guardiola’s team are still going for an unlikely Quadruple this campaign.
The first hurdle is this month’s Carabao Cup clash against Arsenal and the City chief admits he may have to rotate his players, especially this weekend’s four-goal hero Sergio Aguero.
He added: “I would like to give Aguero a rest sometimes but he is the only striker we have. He is making a huge effort and doing really well.”
Despite the millions spent, the injury to Gabriel Jesus and the summer sale of Kelechi Iheanacho to Leicester has left Guardiola short up top.
But in a boost to City fans, Pep said: “Gabriel is coming back soon. Maybe in one week, 10 days or two weeks he will be ready.”