KEV IS THE BEST, SAYS GUARDIOLA

PEP GUARDIOLA insisted Kevin De Bruyne has easily been the Premier League’s best player this season. De Bruyne scored a thunderous 12th goal of the campaign during Manchester City’s rout of Swansea City before being pipped to the PFA Player of the Year by Mo Salah. Salah has scored far more than the Belgian, but Guardiola believes his playmaker’s influence on games has been unrivalled. ‘I know my opinion about these awards,’ Guardiola said. ‘From my point of view when you are analysing 10 months, there is no player better than him (De Bruyne) in terms of the continuity. ‘Maybe in numbers there are guys better than him, but there is no better player this season. For me he was the best. ‘I would like to feel that he deserves it but in the summer time he will be at home as a champion.’ Guardiola revealed he would have ‘no problem’ if the FA choose to charge City following a mass pitch invasion at full time. City run that risk after hundreds of supporters headed for their heroes, with at least one flare set off during the jubilant scenes. Wigan Athletic are still awaiting punishment after their fans invaded the DW Stadium pitch in response to dumping City out of the FA Cup in February. ‘Save the grass,’ Guardiola told City fans. ‘We need the pitch for the future. Football is an emotional game. I understand you have to be careful but when you want to share that you have to be happy. ‘They show how happy they are and that is the most beautiful thing. The people look at us and celebrate in the stadium. I am not going to say to anyone else, “Don’t enjoy it”. ‘Our fans, today from the beginning they were there and singing and close to us. Sometimes they are more cold. They know we are an honest team, a humble team, in the way we play without the ball, the way we press, the way we try to be honest. People realise that. That’s why we are close.’ Guardiola also claimed John Stones should be fit for the World Cup, even though the central defender has been missing for a month. Stones has a thigh problem and the City manager said: ‘He is getting better so hopefully he can play the last games and reach the World Cup. He was injured after being with the national team again.’