Get the biggest City stories, analysis and transfer window updates delivered straight to your inbox Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Pep Guardiola insists Leroy Sane is fully aware why he hasn't featured so often for Manchester City recently.

The City boss said he'd spoken to Sane about the decisions to leave him out of the side in recent weeks, but denied it had anything to do with his contract stand-off.

Sane's deal expires in 2021 and so far talks over an extension have yet to reach their conclusion.

The Germany winger has started just seven of City's last 18 fixtures, with two of them in the FA Cup ties against Newport County and Swansea, and one in the Champions League second leg against Schalke.

Before this run Sane had started 13 of City's 16 previous fixtures, so his recent demotions have come as a surprise, but Guardiola insists the lines of communication between the two have remained open.

"I have said many times how important Leroy has been for us in good or bad moments. He knows the reason why he hasn't played lately," he said.

"We spoke often with him - myself and my people - on and off the pitch and we want the best. Of course there is competition from the other ones, and in some specific games we need it, and in some specific games I prefer a type of player to have more control but my admiration and trust with him is intact. It's there but I always want more."

Sane only came off the bench against Tottenham in midweek in the closing stages, but Guardiola has rebuffed any suggestion his lack of playing time recently is down to his delay in signing a new deal.

(Image: Getty Images)

The City boss held up Ilkay Gundogan as an example of that, with the midfielder refusing to extend a deal that expires next summer, a stance that hasn't adversely affected his playing time.

"Gundogan would not play if that was a reason why," Guardiola said. "Gundogan has one year left and doesn't want to extend so he would not play and he plays - ahead of Kevin De Bruyne.

"I take the decisions on the pitch, what I believe in that moment, what I feel, and take a decision. I know how it works.

"People judge the results, that's all. I'm a good manager because we won a lot in the past but we won not because I'm special and my tactics but the people don't know why we decide on specific tactics for every single game.

"You judge the results, that's all. I'm good when we won and I'm not when we fail."