Kevin De Bruyne: It’s getting better and better every year

Abu Dhabi: Wednesday evening was a bittersweet night for Pep Guardiola, the Manchester City manager.

Guardiola was left frustrated once again at his side’s inability to overcome lesser opposition at the Etihad Stadium, a stubborn Stoke City holding his men to a 0-0 draw; City’s forlorn hopes of catching Premier League leaders Chelsea surely extinguished for good.

But Guadiola’s irritation was assuaged by the news that his old side Barcelona had completed one of the most remarkable comebacks in European football history.

This was vintage Barcelona, their 6-1 evisceration of a supine Paris-Saint Germain a far cry from when Guardiola’s City swept aside the listless Catalans 3-1 at home in the group stage last November.

One of the architects of that thrilling display was Kevin De Bruyne, who scored City’s second goal and was elusive and electric in a second-half attacking masterclass by Guardiola’s side.

The Belgian playmaker and his City team-mates were equally as devastating two weeks ago in a 5-3 home win over Monaco in the Champions League 16.

De Bruyne is now hopeful that City can complete the job next Wednesday in the Principality and then strive to match last season’s semi-final appearance in Europe’s premier competition – at least.

“[The Monaco game] was one of the crazy ones, definitely,” the ginger-haired schemer told media at Emirates Palace hotel in Abu Dhabi, during City’s warm-weather break recently. “I have had a few games like that already to be fair in Belgium and Germany. It was a nerve-racking with a lot of emotion. Luckily, we won the game but it’s not done yet.”

“It’s going better and better every year,” he added, of City’s continued continental progress. “We’ve only been in the Champions League four or five years, so obviously it’s something new. But the team is establishing themselves more and more in Europe, and also last year to reach the semi-final was already good, so hopefully we can go through against Monaco and see what we can do after that.

“Last year to reach the semi-final was already good so hopefully we can go through against Monaco and see what we can do after that.”

Yet despite City’s awesome attacking ability, concerns remain over their defensive limitations, the 25-year-old acknowledged.

“The goals we get against are not really that people outplay us; I think it’s the mistakes we make,” he said.

“It’s when we have the ball at the back, we lose a few balls sometimes — that’s also the risk with the way we play. It’s not like they created the chance. We make two mistakes and then we get the goals against.

“A lot of people are saying that we’re weak defensively, but we have to also analyse the way we’re conceding. I don’t think we get a lot of chances against us, but it’s more dangerous when we do because the way we play is very offensive.”

And how De Bruyne is revelling in such gung-ho tactics, having formed a formidable central midfield partnership with David Silva after being used more on the flanks in his debut season at the Etihad.

“I think it’s going really good. In the beginning of the season we played there as well. Then we changed a little bit because I think the manager wanted to see what is possible in the way that the team could play and evolve but maybe it was not the right time for the team because everything is new for us.

“To play with David and Yaya [Toure] the last few games, who with the ball are so strong, it definitely helps the team out.”

Guardiola has made no secret of how highly he rates De Bruyne, placing him only behind Lionel Messi from the players he’s managed and his former Genk coach, Hein Vanhaezebrouck, even compared him to the legendary Dutchman Johan Cruyff.

“It’s a big compliment,” De Bruyne said. “Obviously I try to play the game in the way that I can help the team. I know I play a little bit more defensively now, more in the role as a team player, but I think I’m doing really well in that.

“People are looking a lot at statistics and all these things, but in the end I don’t really care. If we can win more games than last year where I score less, I will be really happy. And maybe if we can win a few titles, that’s the bonus.”

FACTFILE

Full name Kevin De Bruyne

Date of birth June 28, 1991 (age 25)

Place of birth Drongen, Belgium

Height 1.81m (5 ft 11 in)

Playing position Attacking midfielder / Winger

Club information

Current team Manchester City

Number 17

Youth career

1997–1999 KVV Drongen

1999–2005 Gent