Barcelona legend Xavi believes Manchester City's players are thriving under manager Pep Guardiola.

Xavi, 37, who is now with Qatari side Al Sadd SC, also hailed Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva, claiming the Belgium playmaker is City's Lionel Messi.

“Pep's teams win as teams, but even the most special sides need that player to look to when they need something special," he said.

“At Barcelona we had it with Messi and this team Manchester City have it with De Bruyne.

“Every time he has the ball, you get the feeling that he is going to do something special with it.

“Not every game you can win 3-0 or 4-0, especially in the Champions League and that is when you need one moment of brilliance from a special player.

“David Silva is playing the best football of his career. I can see just from watching him he is learning off Pep.

“He is not a young player anymore, but when you have a player of such intelligence and such vision, it does not matter."