'Hopefully' - Pep Guardiola weighs in on Kevin De Bruyne future and gives Erling Haaland fitness update as Man City seek lift from miserable run of results against Tottenham

De Bruyne's future has been thrown into doubt following his dismal performance in Sunday's defeat at home to Liverpool although there has been a suggestion that the mercurial Belgian, who is into the last year of his contract with City, could stay for at least another year at the Etihad Stadium and accept playing a peripheral role in the squad.

"He's an exceptional player. He was and is and hopefully he will be," Guardiola told a press conference. "Whatever happens will belong to him and the club."

Haaland missed the Liverpool game and the Champions League knockout play-off second leg at Real Madrid with a knee injury although the coach is optimistic that his striker could be back to face Tottenham. Guardiola said: "[He] feels better, the last two games didn't feel okay, we'll see tomorrow."

City lost their first five matches at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium but turned the tie by winning in the FA Cup fourth-round tie last season and grabbing a crucial win in the penultimate game of the Premier League season which put them on the path to winning a fourth consecutive league title. However, City's record against Spurs has haunted them again this campaign as they were beaten 2-1 in the Carabao Cup and were then thrashed 4-0 at the Etihad Stadium in November.

Beating City aside, Tottenham have had a dismal campaign although they have risen to 12th in the table thanks to three wins in a row against Brentford, Manchester United and Ipswich Town. Guardiola said of Ange Postecoglou's side: "A fantastic team, individual quality that they've always had, the rhythm they play with, the intensity, incredible runners in transition. Results dictate one thing, but my opinion of the team is completely the opposite..."