Pep Guardiola’s Kevin De Bruyne prediction proved correct as Man City close in on league title

The Manchester City manager’s comments in October show how much has changed over the course of the campaign.
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If Manchester City get over the line this weekend and manage to claim another Premier League title, so much of it will be down to the brilliance of Kevin De Bruyne.

There was the virtuoso display in December which inspired a 7-0 win over Leeds United, grabbing the match-winning strike against Chelsea, tearing Manchester United apart at the Etihad, and not to forget that four-goal salvo in the recent triumph over Wolverhampton Wanderers.

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But particularly since March, De Bruyne has brought his game to another level with his inch-perfect passes, driving runs from midfield and an ability to find the back of the net at crucial times.

The No.17 has actually registered 13 goal involvements in his last nine league games, and it was no surprise City dropped points against West Ham United at the weekend when De Bruyne had a rare off day.

De Bruyne scored four in the recent win over Wolves. Credit: Getty.De Bruyne scored four in the recent win over Wolves. Credit: Getty.
De Bruyne scored four in the recent win over Wolves. Credit: Getty.

But with the Belgian, he offers so much more than the obvious goal and assist stats - he plays an integral role in City’s press, keeps the ball ticking over in the middle and takes up positions on the field where he can immediately cause damage.

Therefore, it’s not surprising Jamie Carragher this week selected him as his Player of the Season, and fellow pudit Micah Richards recently claimed De Bruyne had enjoyed an ‘extraordinary season’.

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But it’s hard to imagine at one stage this campaign there were criticisms of the former Chelsea and Wolfsburg man from some quarters.

Early season issues

Given his recent form, it seems incredible that anyone could question De Bruyne’s impact in this City team, but there were genuine concerns about his form in the early months of the season.

De Bruyne came back from the Euros with an ankle injury. Credit: Getty.De Bruyne came back from the Euros with an ankle injury. Credit: Getty.
De Bruyne came back from the Euros with an ankle injury. Credit: Getty.

In fact, at ManchesterWorld we ran an article questioning whether the Sky Blues could be better off with a midfield three of Rodri, Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva - they weren’t, we concluded at the time!

While much of De Bruyne’s slow start to the season was overblown and exaggerated, that rustiness centred around a lack of fitness after an unfortunate run of injury and illness.

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He began the 2021/22 campaign still recovering from torn ankle ligaments he suffered at Euro 2020 last summer, and the issue hampered De Bryune’s start to the season, with him completing 90 minutes in just one of City’s opening 10 league games.

Meanwhile, contracting Covid-19 in November also set back that recovery further, just after regaining some of his fitness.

Even after getting over the illness and returning to the team, De Bruyne admitted he was still feeling the effects of Covid following the pivotal role he played in the convincing win over Leeds.

Guardiola always said De Bruyne would return to his best. Credit: Getty.Guardiola always said De Bruyne would return to his best. Credit: Getty.
Guardiola always said De Bruyne would return to his best. Credit: Getty.

Speaking to the media earlier this month, the 30-year-old also opened up on the challenges he faced in the opening months of the season.

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“The first months were really hard, I’ve never experienced the pain I had,” said De Bruyne. “I was trying to come back but it wasn’t something I enjoyed. Mentally it was hard to overcome.

"Now playing all these games, I feel back to the level I was before. I try to be as constant as I can and this year I’ve done that."

Guardiola’s unwavering support

While questions were asked of De Bruyne, one man who never doubted his creator-in-chief was Pep Guardiola.

In October, the City boss said in a pre-match press conference: “We know the best Kevin, but he had some injuries, one muscular in the past, especially in the ankle and in the injury in the face in the final of the Champions league. But he’s getting better.

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“Every game is better than before. The goals, the dynamic, the rhythm and the pace only has been given if you play regularly. He’s a guy, Kevin, that needs to be fit to be the best.

“His potential is the movement, is how to attack the space, how he moves, how he continues to do it. He’s getting better and it’s a good sign for us.”

Meanwhile, speaking in December, Guardiola responded to doubts about De Bruyne’s form and stated: “Kevin doesn’t have to show absolutely anything to me. He has to show himself he’s back, and do what he has to do, like he has done the last five or six years.”

How far that support and reassurance went in De Bruyne regaining the sort of levels he’s shown over recent months, only the City star and manager truly know, but the prediction that the midfielder would go from strength to strength as his fitness developed has proved undeniably correct.

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It’s no exaggeration to state that without the midfielder’s displays since March, it may be Liverpool, not Guardiola’s men, who head into Sunday top of the pile, and it might just take one more peerless performance to push City over the line in the title race this weekend.