Guardiola hails return of ‘phenomenal’ De Bruyne

15 December 2021 - 08:29 By Reuters
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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola celebrates his side's third goal scored by Kevin De Bruyne during a Premier League match against Leeds United at Etihad Stadium on December 14 2021 in Manchester, England.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola celebrates his side's third goal scored by Kevin De Bruyne during a Premier League match against Leeds United at Etihad Stadium on December 14 2021 in Manchester, England.
Image: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said he was proud of his “brilliant” players after they thrashed Leeds United 7-0 in the Premier League on Tuesday, and the Spaniard was particularly delighted with Kevin De Bruyne's return to form.

The Belgian scored twice for leaders City in their seventh straight league win, including a stunning strike for his second goal after the break. After a season in which he has struggled to get back to full fitness and was hampered by a Covid-19 infection, the midfielder looked back to his very best.

“The last two or three days in training I said this guy is humble enough to accept he has to work,” said Guardiola.

“He's phenomenal. We need him. He's so important for us.”

City lost this fixture last season and also drew away to Leeds. Guardiola, a big fan of his opposite number Marcelo Bielsa, said those results should be remembered as context.

“We lost five points to them last season. Everyone knows what it is like to play Leeds. When you get these results it's because individually they (the players) are brilliant. We are proud of the way we're playing,.” 

De Bruyne said he hoped his difficulties were  behind him.

“Obviously, there's been a lot happening this year, a little bit out of my control so the only thing I can do is try to work hard and come back as quick as possible.

“It's unfortunate with everything that happened, at the time I was coming back in a good rhythm, I got Covid-19. It happened and  we're working hard to come back at a good level,” he said.

City  have a four-point advantage over second-placed Liverpool and De Bruyne said an epic battle for the title awaits in the New Year.

“It's a hell of a competition but even outside the top three it's very hard to win every game. You saw a lot of games, like Wolves, West Ham, where you win with one goal difference.

“It's going to be a hell of a race this year but we are trying to be there and that's the only thing we can do.”

Guardiola said he took Bernardo Silva off at halftime as a precautionary measure, with the midfielder experiencing muscle discomfort. Silva, who has re-established himself as a key player for City in recent months after appearing set for a move away in the summer, was replaced by German international Ilkay Gundogan.

“He had muscular niggles, nothing injured but he didn't feel comfortable, and after 3-0 (we were taking) no risk,” Guardiola told reporters.

Silva has scored seven goals and provided one assist in 16 appearances for City in the Premier League this season. City travel to Newcastle on Sunday before hosting Leicester City on December 26 amid a busy run of fixtures.


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