Manchester City ace Kevin de Bruyne has taken a swipe at Aston Villa when defending Jack Grealish.

The former Villa captain is in his second season at City, but has been increasingly criticised in recent weeks.

De Bruyne said: “If you set certain standards for yourself, everyone is going to measure you to these standards.

“With all due respect, he was at Villa before and if you lose a game sometimes it is not the end of the world. But if we lose a game it is different.

“We have to perform every week and win games.

“That is the difference and what he has had to adjust to. As long as we win the games and he is doing a good job for us, that is all that matters.

“Obviously you want to score and get assists, but it is not the end of the world."