Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has insisted that the club's contract stand-off with Leroy Sane is not affecting his chances of selection.
Sane, the brilliant 23-year-old winger who won the PFA's young player of the year last season, has had to stay patient this term as Guardiola has rotated him along with Raheem Sterling, Bernardo Silva and misfiring £60million record signing Riyad Mahrez.
The German international is also stalling on signing a new deal as he heads towards the last two years of his current agreement.
But Guardiola said: “I have said many times - in the good and the bad moments - how important Leroy.
“When he didn’t play lately, he knows the reason why. We have spoken quite often with him - myself and my people - on and off the pitch and we all want the best.
“Of course we have competition from the others and in some instances I prefer another type of player to have more control.
“My admiration and trust in him is intact, but always I want more. I am sorry.
“Ilkay Gundogan doesn't want to extend his contract – so it is not about the contract or Gundo wouldn't play.
“I take a decision about what happens on the pitch, about what I believe in that moment and what I feel when I talk with my people.”
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Guardiola, meanwhile, knows he will be judged on results as City enter the business end of the season.
City have already retained the Carabao Cup and will meet Watford in next month's FA Cup final.
But they take on Palace trailing leaders Liverpool by two points, albeit with a game in hand.
And on Wednesday night they face Tottenham needing to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit to reach the Champions League semi-finals for the first time since Manuel Pellegrini was in charge.
City collected a record-breaking 100 points to win the title last year – and are on 80 this time.
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And Guardiola said: “People judge the results. I’m a good manager when we win, and I'm not so good when we fail.
“In the bad moments, we all suffer when it doesn't work, but sometimes I need those bad moments to realise how good we have been or how to turn it around.
“I still say that when you make 180 points (over two seasons) it is exceptional.
“We are close to qualifying for the Champions League again – and for me that is incredible success.
“I know other people want to win the Champions League, to win more trophies.
“But I am more humble in analysing myself than to judge success as the quadruple or the quintuple. I am not judging myself by that.”
