Pep Guardiola believes Kevin de Bruyne deserved to be named Player of the Year ahead of Mohamed Salah

Guardiola pointed out on Sunday that De Bruyne 'will be at home, being a champion' this summer

Kevin de Bruyne has been Manchester City's outstanding player this season (Getty)

Pep Guardiola believes that Kevin de Bruyne deserved to win this year’s PFA Player of the Year award ahead of Mohamed Salah.

Salah was named as the outstanding player of the season on Sunday night after topping of a poll of his fellow professionals and narrowly edging out second-placed De Bruyne.

The Manchester City midfielder spent much of this season as the long-standing favourite for the award but Salah’s remarkable 41 goals in 46 games for Liverpool this season persuaded more of their peers.

De Bruyne will at least end the campaign with a Premier League winners’ medal and the backing of Guardiola, who labelled the Belgian as “the best” following his side’s 5-0 win over Swansea City.

“I know my opinion about these awards,” the City manager said, when asked about the prospect of De Bruyne missing out on the prize.

“If he doesn’t win, congratulations to the guy who is going to win, but from my point of view when you are analysing [the last] nine or ten months, there was no player better than him, in terms of the continuity, in terms of being there every three days of all competitions.”

While Salah’s scoring record has been exceptional, De Bruyne has earned plaudits for his all-round game and Guardiola believes that should have taken precedence in the voting.

“I am sorry,” he said. “Maybe in numbers there are guys better than him, but no [there is no better] player in this season. For me he was the best, but it is my opinion but the opinions of the players could be different.

“I would like to feel that he [De Bruyne] deserves it but at the end [of the season], in the summer time, he will be at home, being a champion.”