Pep guards against Messi and De Bruyne comparison
Pep Guardiola thinks Kevin De Bruyne will have to help Manchester City win trophies before he can be regarded as one of the greats like Lionel Messi.
But the City manager feels such comparisons with the Barcelona star could put too much pressure on his Belgian forward.
De Bruyne has been in outstanding form for the Premier League leaders in the early part of the season and he delivered a passing masterclass in Saturday’s 7-2 rout of Stoke, helping set up four goals.
That came after another commanding performance, and match-winning goal, against champions Chelsea prior to the recent international break.
Asked if De Bruyne, 26, could currently be regarded as the best player in Europe, Guardiola said: “The best is just one (player). If he wants to be considered one of the best, you have to win titles and we are here to help him to achieve that. The best is just one, but he is of course one of the best.”
Guardiola was obviously referring to Messi when he spoke about the best. Asked if De Bruyne could ever reach Messi’s level, Guardiola said: “It would be a dream for me.
“I would love, not only for Kevin, but all the players I have had in the past to achieve the level of Messi.
“But I don’t want to put pressure on Kevin’s shoulders. Kevin is an outstanding, amazing player, but I don’t help him by comparing him with Messi.”
Another of City’s star men, striker Sergio Aguero, could return against Napoli having made a rapid recovery from the broken rib he sustained in a car crash three weeks ago.