Kevin De Bruyne admits 'all of Manchester City' would like to win title against Manchester United

De Bruyne knows City must first beat Everton at Goodison Park on 31 March

Manchester City moved a step closer to the league title by beating Stoke City on Monday (Getty)

Kevin De Bruyne admits that everyone at Manchester City would like to seal the Premier League title against Manchester United in April, though he insists they must complete the first half of their two-part task at Everton.

Pep Guardiola’s side will be crowned champions against Jose Mourinho’s United if they win at Goodison Park on 31 March and then overcome their neighbours at the Etihad on 7 April.

The prospect of a coronation against United is proving hard to ignore for many supporters, and the City dressing room understands why, but De Bruyne believes simply winning the title – no matter where or when – is the most important thing.

“I think all of City would like that – to try and win that game for the title,” he said, when asked how special it would be to secure the title against United. “But if it’s not, it’s not.”

De Bruyne added: “To go to Everton is a very hard game, we know that. They are already probably safe so we will see. It seems so long now to that game. I just hope everybody comes back [from international break] healthy to play the last part.”

This year’s Premier League title will be De Bruyne’s first since joining City in 2015 and the midfielder, who is the favourite to win this season’s Player of the Year awards, is in no doubt that this is the best side he has played in since his arrival.

“Obviously the results show that,” said the former Chelsea and Wolfsburg midfielder. “I don’t think the other teams were bad. But it wasn’t the way it is now.

“Everybody is on such a high level this season, everybody wants to win it and from the beginning of the season everybody stepped it up a level and it remains the same.”

Following Monday night’s 2-0 victory at Stoke City, City flew out to Abu Dhabi for a five-day warm weather training camp.

De Bruyne admitted to feeling “like shit” in February before City’s first mid-season break of the year and, though he admits the team’s form has made things slightly easier of late, he is ready for another period of rest.

“It is a little easier but at the end of the day it is still draining – that’s just the way it is. Football here is very hard in general with a lot of games,” he said. “If you want to do well you play even more.

“To be fair, I feel good and I have managed to play all my games until now without a problem so I’m very happy with that.

“I think it’s nice to go away and have some sunshine for a change. It will be nice to be in a different environment, rest a little more and recharge the batteries.”