Kevin de Bruyne was given high praise by Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola

The Belgium ace has made an impressive start to the season and produced a midfield masterclass in City’s Champions League thumping of Feyenoord in Rotterdam.

His display prompted Guardiola to describe De Bruyne as one of the best players he has ever seen in his life.

Guardiola reckons De Bruyne is now at the same level as the best in the business.

De Bruyne admits he is happy to be compared with the greats - but knows the heat is now on him to prove his boss right.

He said: “It makes me happy, but the other way it is also a way of putting pressure on me to do well.

“I have tried to be more consistent since I came here and have had ups and downs, but last year and the start this year has been constantly very good for me.

“I’m going with the flow of the team. I feel really good after good preparation.

“Physically and mentally I’m ready to play and get a lot of confidence from the manager and the teammates around me.

“I’ve been here more than two years so I feel at home with this team – it’s a good period for me.”

De Bruyne has been operating in a more deeper midfield role this season following the arrival of Bernardo Silva from Monaco.

But De Bruyne insists he gets more pleasure from setting-up goals than scoring them and he added: “I get more more joy from an assist sometimes, just in the way I feel.

“It’s nice to score a goal, but I don’t get in that type of position too many times, as I did in the first year.

“But it doesn’t matter. I am enjoying my football and the goals will come. As long as we win - I don’t care.”