Pep Guardiola might have let slip Man City's most important summer signing

If Erling Haaland was Manchester City's leading man against RB Leipzig this week with his five goals, then Kevin De Bruyne was surely the 'Best Supporting Actor'.

De Bruyne was back to his brilliant, driving best as City scored seven in the Champions League, and was as key to the win as Haaland's record-breaking goals. Still, Pep Guardiola was keen to deflect from Haaland's goals by discussing the defence, and was equally sure to bring De Bruyne back to earth with a reminder that he can still improve.

In the middle of a passionate - and at times bizarre - post-match press conference, Guardiola let slip who he would consider as a midfielder in better form and possibly more important than De Bruyne.

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"The people say 'he has to play Kevin De Bruyne all the time'. You think I'm stupid in that level Leipzig are going to play?" asked Guardiola. "He would not play in that way. You have to sit and realise.

"[Does] Bernardo deserve to play? Gundogan, he's the best midfielder we have this season. They have to compete with each other and reach the highest level possible. Otherwise another player is going to play."

Maybe it was a motivational technique for De Bruyne, in an ongoing attempt to get more consistency from the Belgian. Still, to name Ilkay Gundogan as City's best midfielder this season feels significant - especially with the German out of contract in the summer.

Club captain Gundogan has started eight of the last nine games, underlining his importance to the team in the pressure games and he is quietly providing key moments that have underlined City's nine-game unbeaten run.

He scored against Aston Villa and