Pep Guardiola: Cole Palmer is one of the players of the season

Pep Guardiola admits former Manchester City Chelsea star Cole Palmer has been one of the players of the season.

Man City manager also revealed the 21-year-old England international had been trying to leave the Etihad Stadium for two years before making a £42.5m move to Stamford Bridge last summer.

Cole Palmer, who was regarded as one of the brightest products of the City Academy, has been Chelsea’s most influential player since moving south in search of more first-team opportunities.

Cole Palmer has scored 25 goals this season, including 11 in the last six games. He enters Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final clash with former club City at Wembley fresh from a four-goal volley against Everton on Monday.

Pep Guardiola said: “Cole was the decisive player in many ways, maybe for the whole season.

“He is an exceptional player. We knew it when he was here.

“We know how he’s proving (himself), but he’s had a lot of minutes. I’ve said many times that I didn’t give him minutes when maybe he deserved them. He wanted the minutes he now has at Chelsea.

“I totally understand. I’m happy for him because he’s a nice guy, a shy guy. He has incredible potential or he wouldn’t be here.

“He’s playing well. He’s an incredible threat. He’s playing fantastic.”

Palmer was a member of City’s treble-winning side last season and has opened the current campaign prominently with goals for Guardiola’s side in the Community Shield and European Super Cup.

Despite attempts to convince the Wythenshawe-born player to stay at his hometown club, his intention to move on before the end of the summer transfer window had long been decided.

Guardiola said: “So what can I say? The decision was made for many reasons. He asked for two seasons to leave.

“I said, ‘No, stay.’ Finally (he said), ‘No, I want to leave’. What can we do? Before the season I said: ‘Stay because Riyad (Mahrez) has left’. He said, ‘No, I want to leave’.

“After two seasons, what can you say? So go there. Playing at this level is exceptional. Everyone knows that.”

City’s hopes of a second treble in a row were dashed on Wednesday when they suffered an agonizing penalty shoot-out defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals.

The focus is now on defending a domestic double, something no side has yet managed, but Guardiola preferred not to look at goals that way.

Guardiola said: “We were close again (to the heights) but it didn’t happen.

“So my advice about heights or pairings or those things is, why don’t we focus on Chelsea?” It’s enough of a goal to think about.

“When you’ve got one or two games left in the Premier League and you’re already in the FA Cup final, I can give you a perfect answer.

“Twice we felt how strong Chelsea are. They are really, really hard.

“So win that game and see what happens in the next three, four, five games in the Premier League and then, we’ll see.