Manchester City can make history with Kevin De Bruyne... he's the best player in the Premier League by a country mile, says Stoke boss Mark Hughes

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Mark Hughes has witnessed some of the seminal moments in the modern history of Manchester City. He was, after all, manager of the club at the dawn of the Abu Dhabi takeover in 2008 and the seismic shift in the football landscape that followed.

Four years later, the Welshman was in the opposition dugout when Sergio Aguero’s memorable late winner against Queens Park Rangers sealed City’s first title in 44 years.

Here, on his latest return to the Etihad, Hughes bore witness to the finest performance yet by what is proving to be the most prolific team the Premier League has seen.

Kevin De Bruyne showed why he is the best player in the Premier League against Stoke City

‘Quite devastating,’ was his assessment of this rampant, ruthless City side and their architect-in-chief, Kevin De Bruyne — and even that felt like an understatement.

Pep Guardiola’s side have now scored 29 goals in their first eight league games. It’s a feat last achieved by Everton in October 1894, shortly after Queen Victoria opened the Manchester Ship Canal.

When City hired Guardiola last year in the hope that he would recreate the irresistible, clinical football that became his hallmark at Barcelona, this is what they had in mind.

At this rate, his team will have no trouble eclipsing the record 103 goals Chelsea scored on their way to winning the title in 2010, one more than City managed under Manuel Pellegrini four years later.

The Belgian provided four assists as Manchester City romped to another league victory

Mark Hughes says De Bruyne is the best player in the Premier League 'by a country mile'

Guardiola knows it will not be all plain sailing. A year ago, City faltered in October. But their progression since and another summer of big spending have transformed his team into something more potent.

Stoke have already beaten Arsenal and drawn with Manchester United this season before losing to Chelsea, and former City boss Hughes has no doubt which of his opponents pack the most punch.

‘City do look significantly better than anybody else in the league,’ he admitted in the wake of a stunning seven-goal demolition. ‘We’re not the first team it’s happened to, and I’d suggest we won’t be the last.’ 

Hughes could not hide his admiration for De Bruyne, who had a hand in four of the goals — two for Gabriel Jesus, and one each for Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane.

Pep Guardiola has placed De Bruyne at the centre of his incredible Manchester City team

Guardiola may have upset Tottenham with his ‘Harry Kane Team’ comment, but De Bruyne is the one player City really cannot do without right now. The Belgian’s passing was simply sublime.

When Stoke threatened the unlikeliest of comebacks by pulling it back to 3-2, he almost single-handedly killed off the game.

‘You have a world-class player like Kevin De Bruyne who didn’t like what he was seeing and said, “I’m going to take it away from Stoke City”, and he did,’ said Hughes.

‘For me, he is the best player in the Premier League by a country mile.’

City’s other goals came from David Silva, Fernandinho and Bernardo Silva, who scored his first since a £43million summer move. The Portugal star was the heartbeat of a free-scoring Monaco side who set Europe alight last season, but he believes City are even better. ‘I think so,’ he said. ‘Last season we played good football but this team’s performance has been outstanding.’

City have won their opening two group games in the Champions League for the first time, scoring six goals and conceding none. On Tuesday, they face Napoli at the Etihad in buoyant mood on the back of what Guardiola called their best performance under him so far. It was put to him that thrashing Stoke might lead to over-confidence in the camp. ‘If the players think that, they will be stupid,’ he said.

For Hughes, the next five fixtures, Bournemouth, Watford, Leicester, Brighton and Crystal Palace, might at least offer some respite. So there is some good news at least? ‘The good news is that we don’t have to play Manchester City for a while,’ he smiled.