Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola admits he wants more from Kevin de Bruyne.

De Bruyne has registered 17 assists in 34 appearances this season, three more than the two-time Premier League player of the season managed in 45 games last term.

But Guardiola has started the Belgium midfielder on the bench in four of City's past nine top-flight games and has told the 31-year-old to focus on the "simple things" to get back to his best.

"It's been a difficult season for all of us, me included, [because of] the World Cup and many things," said Guardiola.

"I'm not going to discover Kevin. Kevin has an ability to do it. What I'd like - I spoke many times to him - is [for him] to go to the easy principles and do it well.

"He has an incredible ability to make an assist, to score goals and see passes like no-one else, but I always have belief they will increase and will get better when [players do] the simple things...

"When the simple things are done perfectly and we are in the right moment, the actions to create incredible passes that he - only he - can find, it will be easier, it will be better."