Inter Miami have stepped aside in the race to sign Kevin De Bruyne, clearing the way for Chicago Fire to lead the pursuit of the departing Manchester City midfielder should he opt for a move to Major League Soccer.
Miami had previously held exclusive negotiation rights with the 33-year-old through MLS’s ‘discovery list’ system, but sources have confirmed to BBC Sport that the club has chosen not to initiate talks before the mid-July deadline.
As a result, a potential reunion with Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, and Sergio Busquets in Florida is now off the table.
With Miami out of the picture, Chicago Fire now hold the priority to negotiate with De Bruyne, who announced in April that he would be leaving City at the end of the season when his contract expires.
Reports suggest his representatives are preparing to meet with the MLS club, who currently sit 11th in the Eastern Conference standings.
The Belgian midfielder, who expressed surprise at not receiving a contract extension from City, departs after a decorated spell at the Etihad.
His time in Manchester has seen him collect 16 major trophies, including six Premier League titles and a Champions League crown in 2023.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has not ruled outKevin De Bruyne’s participation in the upcoming match against Arsenal, despite the midfielder suffering an injury during Wednesday’s game.
Guardiola hinted that there is still a possibility the Belgian star could be available for Sunday’s important clash.
“He feels a little better today… Tomorrow we train and we will see. He could be [involved],” Guardiola told a news conference on Friday.
Kevin De Bruyne was taken off at halftime during Manchester City’s 0-0 draw with Inter Milan after sustaining an injury while attempting to latch onto a Jack Grealish through ball.
City now turn their attention to a crucial Premier League encounter against Arsenal, which could shape the title race. Pep Guardiola’s side remains unbeaten with four consecutive wins, sitting comfortably at the top of the table.
Addressing media concerns about the congested football schedule, Guardiola commented onRodri’s suggestion that a player strike could be on the horizon, emphasising the growing challenges players face.
“I agree with you, maybe for the first time, that many voices are talking about the players,” Guardiola said. “I’m pretty sure that if something is going to change, it must come from the players. They are the only ones who can change something.
“The business can be without managers, sporting directors, media, and owners, but without players you cannot play. The only ones to have the power to do it is them.
“And also, I’m pretty busy; they’ve done it to adjust the game, to make it more attractive. That’s the reason why many players around the world, not just Rodders [Rodri], are starting to talk. We’ll see.”
The midfielder was forced off with an injury during City’s 0-0 draw against Inter Milan on Wednesday night.
De Bruyne was substituted at half-time after sustaining the injury late in the first half while chasing a through ball from Jack Grealish. His availability for the Arsenal match remains uncertain.
“We’ll assess tonight and I’ll have more information tomorrow,” said Guardiola.
“The doctors said to me he wasn’t right to play but I was thinking about changing it at half-time anyway.
“When you are alone and lose easy balls, it’s a counterattack—it’s impossible to stop it. You have to be more precise. It happened especially on the left side with Kevin. We lost the ball without pressure, and when that happens, they can kill you.”
Despite starting their Champions League campaign with a draw, Guardiola insisted he was happy with City’s performance.
Inter had chances, but so did Guardiola’s team, including two late headers from substitute Ilkay Gündogan.
“It’s at the start of the season,” said the City boss.
“The displays will be better, with more time we will be better. We played so good. I love my team, we are a fantastic team. Inter are a team that defends really well. They are the masters of defending and transitions as well.”
Inter’s best opportunity fell to former Manchester United midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who blazed over the crossbar from inside the penalty area.
“They put in a giant performance,” said boss Simone Inzaghi.
“I asked them to play exactly as they did. We all knowManchester City and what they are capable of. We knew we had to pull out all the stops and play a great game, and we did it. When we work well as a team, we make it hard for everyone.”
De Bruyne, a crucial part of City’s team, played a key role in helping the club win the Premier League title last season, marking their fourth consecutive championship and his sixth since joining the team.
Recent reports have linked De Bruyne with a move to Saudi Arabia, suggesting he might be interested in new opportunities following a successful period with City.
The Belgian has won every major club trophy during his tenure and has one year left on his current contract. He recently hinted that he might consider a move to the Saudi Pro League due to attractive financial offers.
Despite these rumors, Guardiola remains confident about De Bruyne’s future at City.
In a pre-season press conference before their game against Celtic in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Guardiola addressed the speculation and reaffirmed De Bruyne’s commitment to the club.
“Kevin isn’t leaving,” he told reporters. “If someone leaves, we are going to talk about that and, of course, until the last day [of the transfer window] we have chances. I don’t rule out new players as an option, but I think there is an 85, 90, 95% chance we will have the same squad.”
Guardiola’s confidence suggests that Manchester City are likely to retain the core of its championship-winning squad as they prepare to defend their Premier League title.
Following Belgium’s elimination from Euro 2024 with a 1-0 loss to France in the round of 16, Belgian starKevin De Bruyne dismissed a journalist’s inquiry as ‘unreasonable.’
The Red Devils were defeated when Jan Vertonghen scored an own goal late in the match. De Bruyne faced the media in the mixed zone after the game to discuss their departure from the tournament.
During the questioning, the journalist asked, “Is it hard that the ‘Golden Generation’ didn’t achieve a final?”
After a brief pause, De Bruyne replied with a question, “What is the Golden Generation?”
The journalist responded, “Yours.” De Bruyne continued, “Mine? And you’re saying that France, England, Spain, and Germany do not have a Golden Generation? Okay, thank you.”
After responding to the question, the Manchester City player promptly left the mixed zone. As he departed, he was captured on camera referring to the inquiry as a ‘stupid question.’
Belgium’s renowned team has earned the moniker ‘golden generation’ owing to the exceptional talent of its players over the years.
In a thrilling showdown in Cologne, Kevin De Bruyne’s masterclass inspired Belgium to secure their first Euro 2024 victory with a dynamic performance against Romania.
The win was crucial for Belgium, who were under significant pressure in Group E after an initial defeat to Slovakia.
Belgium, needing a positive result, delivered an outstanding attacking display that underscored why they are considered one of the tournament favorites.
The electrifying atmosphere set the stage for a fast-paced game, with Youri Tielemans firing Belgium into the lead with a precise low drive just 73 seconds into the match. This early goal set the tone for a match filled with chances for Belgium.
Despite Belgium’s relentless pressure, Romania managed to stay in contention. Romelu Lukaku experienced misfortune when his goal was disallowed by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), marking the third time in the tournament he had been denied. The decision came after Lukaku was ruled offside from a perfect pass by De Bruyne.
However, Belgium’s determination and De Bruyne’s brilliance proved unstoppable. The Manchester City midfielder sealed the victory by scoring from close range in the 79th minute, ensuring Belgium’s dominance on the field translated into the scoreline.
With this win, Belgium’s position in Group E remains precarious, as all four teams are now tied with three points each. The result leaves the group finely balanced, setting up an intense battle for the remaining matches.
De Bruyne’s performance was pivotal in Belgium’s resurgence, demonstrating his critical role in their campaign. His leadership and skill will be vital as Belgium continues their quest for Euro 2024 glory.
Kevin De Bruyne has expressed his willingness to consider a transfer to theSaudi Pro League (SPL), citing the “incredible” financial benefits of moving to the Gulf region.
With one year remaining on his contract at Manchester City, the midfielder has been linked to a potential move to Saudi Arabia.
According to a source from ESPN, De Bruyne’s agents visited 10 Saudi clubs over three days in May.
The Belgian international has acknowledged that the lucrative offers from the SPL are tempting.
“At my age, you have to be open to everything,” De Bruyne said in an interview with Belgian outlet HLN.
“You’re talking about incredible amounts of money in what may be the end of my career. Sometimes you have to think about that.
“If I play there for two years, I will be able to earn an incredible amount of money. Before that, I had to play football for 15 years. I may not even reach that amount yet.
“Then you have to think about what that could mean next. But at the moment, I haven’t had to think about that yet.”
He was restricted to 18 league appearances last season after missing the first five months of the campaign because of a hamstring injury.
Now 32, De Bruyne, who has also been linked with a move to MLS, said it’s time to start thinking about his next move.
“These are conversations that we are increasingly having as a family,” added De Bruyne.
According to The Athletic, De Bruyne’s agents have had one conversation with the club, which is set to join MLS next season.
The midfielder is said to be considering finishing his career in the United States, making San Diego a potential destination.
However, these discussions are still in the early stages, and a move is far from being finalized. While the Belgium international has also been linked with a possible move to Saudi Arabia, he has expressed a desire to remain at Manchester City until retirement.
His current contract with City is set to expire next year.
Moving to the MLS has become an increasingly attractive option for veteran European players, especially following Lionel Messi’s high-profile transfer to Inter Miami.
Despite these considerations, De Bruyne remains a key player for Pep Guardiola’s squad, recently contributing to their fourth consecutive Premier League title.
This season, despite being hampered by injuries, the 33-year-old managed to score four goals and provide 10 assists in 18 Premier League appearances.
Given his crucial role at Manchester City and his contract running until 2025, an immediate transfer seems unlikely.
De Bruyne aims to end the season on a high note as City prepares to face Manchester Unitedin the FA Cup final this week.
Saudi Pro League (SPL) teams are eyeing several Premier League stars ahead of the upcoming summer transfer window according to a source speaking to ESPN.
Established players such asKevin De Bruyne, Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Alisson, Raphaël Varane, Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, and Andreas Pereira are reportedly targets for the next season.
Additionally, there’s a focus on signing younger talents, including Juventus’ 20-year-old forward Matìas Soulè.
While Saudi Arabian sources anticipate that SPL teams won’t match the record-breaking £757 million ($957 million) spent in 2023, they assert that this summer’s transfer strategy will be equally aggressive, with significant outlays on player fees expected.
In 2023, SPL’s transfer spend ranked second only to the Premier League’s £1.1 billion ($1.39 billion).
Specific team objectives have been highlighted, with Al Ahli seeking a striker, Al Nassr aiming for a goalkeeper, and Al Ittihad looking to strengthen their defence and midfield.
Al Hilal, currently leading the SPL table, has made significant signings in the past, including Neymar from Paris Saint-Germain last summer. It’s worth noting that the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF) holds controlling stakes in Al Ittihad, Al Ahli, Al Nassr, and Al Hilal.
Moreover, Al Qadisiyah, poised for SPL promotion as they top the second division, is anticipated to invest heavily. Owned by Saudi Aramco, valued at over $2 trillion, they are expected to contribute to the SPL’s growing financial muscle.
Furthermore, the SPL aims to attract more high-profile coaches, with names like Thomas Tuchel, Sergio Conceicao of FC Porto, and Mauricio Pochettino of Chelsea mentioned as potential candidates.
Pep Guardiola has addressed speculation surrounding Kevin De Bruyne’s potential departure from Manchester City, amidst reported interest from the MLS and Saudi Pro League.
De Bruyne, whose contract with the Cityzens runs until 2025, has emerged as a target for clubs in both the Saudi Pro League and Major League Soccer.
With negotiations for a new deal with the Premier League outfit yet to materialise, the 32-year-old could entertain the possibility of leaving the team during the upcoming summer transfer window.
In response to queries about De Bruyne’s future, manager Guardiola expressed his desire to see the Belgian midfielder conclude his career at the Etihad Stadium.
However, he emphasised that the ultimate decision rests with De Bruyne himself.
Speaking to reporters, the Catalan manager said, “It’s a question for him; I’d love for him to stay but I don’t know. I heard some links but I don’t know if there’s an offer. I don’t know if Saudi Arabia wants him. I would love for him to stay until the end of his career, but everyone is everyone.”
Numerous reports indicate that the Saudi Pro League is gearing up to present a tempting offer to lure the Manchester City star to the Middle East for the upcoming season.
In contrast, The Athletic suggests another potential path for the former Chelsea player, hinting at a scenario akin to Lionel Messi’s recent contract, which could see him earning approximately $150 million over two years.
The star midfielder’s next appearance for his club is set forTuesday, as they face Luton Town in a fifth-round FA Cup clash at Kenilworth Road.
Manchester City midfielderKevin De Bruyne believes that his five-month break from football due to injury may ultimately be a blessing in disguise for both himself and the club.
De Bruyne returned from hamstring surgery in the 5-0 victory over Huddersfield Town on Sunday, marking his first appearance for Pep Guardiola’s side since August.
The 32-year-old, who provided an assist for Jérémy Doku just 17 minutes after coming on, expressed feeling refreshed after his time on the sidelines and is eager to contribute to City’s pursuit of trophies in the second half of the season.
“It’s not like I needed a break but I took it to turn a disadvantage into an advantage,” De Bruyne said. “When I reflect on my career, playing the last 10 years non-stop with a short break, maybe it was good for me to reset a little bit in a way and take care of myself when it is not really possible during the year.
“I hoped I could work hard and come back in a good way and I feel that I’m doing that but obviously I need to progress.” De Bruyne missed 27 games before returning to the squad for the 2-0 win over Sheffield United on Dec. 30.
He got his first minutes against Huddersfield and afterwards admitted it was good to be back, if only because he’s not a fan of watching games on TV. “I can watch whateverfootball and I watched every game but I don’t like it,” he said. “They’ve obviously been alright.
After the year we had last year, there will be ups and downs but in most of the games except for Aston Villa and maybe Wolves, we did fairly well. We are there with the other teams. “If you’re here with all the teams around, you’re not going to be far away. We are where we need to be, but we need to try and continue that.”
During his prolonged absence from competitive football, Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne found a different role as a taxi driver for his children.
The Belgian international, who spent almost five months on the sidelines due to a hamstring injury suffered on the opening day of the Premier League season, marked his return with an assist in City’s 5-0 victory over Huddersfield in the FA Cup.
After the game, De Bruyne shared that he dedicated a significant portion of his time off to chauffeuring his children.
“To be honest, when you have three kids between three and seven, not a lot; I’m basically a taxi driver. I enjoyed it,”De Bruyne told reporters. “I think they enjoyed that Daddy could watch the games and now it will be harder for the Missus and everyone to work around the programme.”
De Bruyne admitted that the time away may have been good for him on a mental level after spending so long competing at the highest level twice a week. He added, “It’s not like I needed a break but I took it to turn a disadvantage into an advantage.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwvcoNbmoHI
When I reflect on my career, playing the last 10 years nonstop with a short break, maybe it was good for me to reset a little bit in a way and take care of myself when it is not really possible during the year. I hoped I could work hard and come back in a good way and I feel that I’m doing that but obviously I need to progress.”
But he said he did not enjoy being away from his teammates. “It’s everything. When you’re training for an injury, you’re always alone,” De Bruyne added. “You can train with other physios or people in the gym but you’re not really with the team so a lot of times you’re working outside these hours so it’s nice to be with the team competing again. You compete against yourself when you’re training.”
In an effort to prevent a recurrence of the injury,De Bruyne is not expected to start City’s upcoming away game against Newcastle. However, he may make a cameo appearance from the bench.
Following that, the team will travel to Abu Dhabi for a warm-weather training camp, where he will be able to regain match fitness in advance of their January 31 home game against Burnley.
Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne, aged 32, has been excluded from the squad for the UEFA Super Cup clash against Sevilla due to a recurring hamstring injury he sustained during the team’s season opener.
The Belgian midfielder had to exit the field in the 36th minute of Manchester City’s 3-0 victory over Burnley on Friday.
This injury follows his previous hamstring issue during the Champions League final win in June, and Pep Guardiola, the manager, has confirmed it’s a recurrence of the same ailment.
“It’s the hamstring again, same position. I don’t know (how long he will be out), it depends on the magnitude of the injury but it will be a few weeks,” Guardiola said after the game at Burnley.
Guardiola has announced a roster of 22 players for the upcoming UEFA Super Cup match scheduled for Wednesday in Athens.
In preparation for the upcoming Premier League season, the Belgian football sensation presented 26 custom-made phones, each valued at £5,000.
De Bruyne surprised his fellow players with these luxurious devices, which were crafted by renowned custom mobile designers iDesign Gold, during an unexpected gathering on Thursday.
This gesture was influenced by Lionel Messi’s act of generosity when he presented Argentina’s World Cup-winning team and staff with 35 24-carat gold iPhones worth £175,000 earlier this year.
In response to De Bruyne’s initiative, discussions are underway for Pep Guardiola’s team to establish a partnership to create exclusive, tailor-made iPhones.
The club’s star players were rewarded by their talisman for their exceptional achievement in securing the historic treble.
During Manchester City’s Champions League celebrations,Kevin De Bruyne caused confusion among fans as he was seen wearing a Sheffield Wednesday kit.
City achieved a remarkable treble on Saturday, June 10, by claiming the European trophy for the first time in the club’s history in Istanbul.
In the final against Inter Milan, City emerged as European champions with a 1-0 victory. According to BBC, Rodri’s goal in the second half proved to be the decisive factor in securing the historic win.
The victory sparked wild celebrations from the Man City camp that later spilled over into the dressing room.
De Bruyne in Sheffield kit
But one peculiar thing from the celebrations that left fansconfused was De Bruyne’s decision to sport a Sheffield Wednesday kit.
While everyone else was donning Man City attire, the Belgian playmaker opted for the second-tier side’s shirt from the ’90s.
The Mirror claims that the midfielder may have worn the shirt due to his wife’s ties with the club.
The publication claims De Bruyne’s wife, Michele, is good friends with the partner of former Wednesday captain, Glenn Loovens, so much so that Loovens was spotted in Istanbul interacting with Man City fans during the final.
Inside Man City’s celebrations
Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Manchester City stars were on cloud nine as they celebrated their Champions League triumph on Saturday night.
Jack Grealish led the celebrations, which spilt over into a nightclub, with the Englishman spotted downing a few cans of booze.
On his part, Erling Haaland toasted his fine season with a cigar.Kevin De Bruyne, who hobbled off with an injury in the first half, joined his teammates for the celebrations.
Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland have been referred to as “beasts” by Bernardo Silva after the explosive pair caused havoc in Manchester City’s crucial victory over Arsenal.
In a 4-1 victory on Wednesday at the Etihad Stadium, De Bruyne notched two goals off of assists from Haaland and one more for John Stones before the Norwegian registered his own goal.
The win gave the treble-chasing champions a tight grip on the Premier League title battle as they closed the gap on the front-runners to two points with two games remaining.
Haaland has now scored a stunning 33 goals in the competition this season – one short of the record – and laid on seven assists while De Bruyne’s figures are seven and 16 respectively.
City midfielder Silva said: “We knew that they could come doing man-to-man and we tried to stretch them as much as possible because, if they do man-to-man against us, they have to deal with Kevin and Erling up front. It’s never going to be easy in that spot.
“It was perfect for Kevin. They gave space for Kevin and to Erling to run. When you give them this kind of space, they are so difficult to defend.
“Two beasts running, their movements – Kevin with the passes, Erling with the scoring – this was the opposite.
“They did it perfectly, they created lots of chances. We could have scored even more.”
City now have a superb chance to emulate Manchester United’s 1999 achievement of winning all three of the remaining trophies on offer.
As well as being in command of their title destiny they are through to the FA Cup final, where they will face United, and they take on Real Madrid in the last four of the Champions League next month.
Manager Pep Guardiola has been reluctant to publicly discuss the prospect of winning the treble.
Silva insists the subject is not off-limits but the focus is very much on taking one game at a time.
The Portuguese said: “No, he hasn’t banned anything! We’re big men and we talk about whatever we want.
“But these players know that the best way to achieve good things is to think just about the next one. If we don’t beat Fulham on Sunday we put ourselves in a difficult position to win the Premier League.
“If we don’t win the Premier League we arrive in the final of the FA Cup and in the semi-finals of the Champions League not in a good momentum.
“We want to try and stay in this good momentum to try and go as far as possible. The team is doing very well at the moment and we’re going to try and keep it that way.”
Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne scored the eighth Premier League goal of the year, and Pep Guardiola praised their “special connection” after the game.
The two played a crucial role in City’s 3-1 victory over mediocre Leicester City on Saturday.
Haaland equaled Mohamed Salah’s record for the most goals in a season (38 games) by scoring twice to bring his league total to 32.
His second goal came when he latched onto a precise De Bruyne throughball, marking the eighth time the Belgium international has teed up a Haaland strike in the top flight this term.
That is one off the joint record of nine, shared by Tottenham duo Harry Kane and Son Heung-min and ex-Liverpool forwards Stan Collymore and Robbie Fowler.
“I think the connection between Erling and Kevin is obvious,” Guardiola said. “I think Kevin needs the runners to do his biggest quality.
“Erling needs an assist player to make his positive runs. It’s a natural way. We talk a lot about ‘take a look at him when he runs and put the ball there’.
“But what I like about that second goal is Kevin won the duel. I love that. He won the duel and after that, the run and finish from Erling was fantastic.”
De Bruyne’s eight assists to Haaland is three more than any other Premier League player has managed to a team-mate this term, with Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes having set up Marcus Rashford on five occasions.
Victory over Leicester, combined with Arsenal’s 2-2 draw against West Ham, means City are just four points off the Gunners with a game in hand.
The title rivals will meet on April 26, in what looks set to be the decisive clash.
Kevin De Bruyne revelled in a reinvigorated Belgium realizing their potential as the new Red Devils captain hailed the “fun” approach Domenico Tedesco has instilled.
Manchester City superstar De Bruyne assisted two and scored another as Belgium defeated Germany 3-2 in Tuesday’s friendly at RheinEnergieStadion.
That made new coach Tedesco the first Belgium manager to start his tenure with two victories since Rene Vandereycken in 2006.
Tedesco also became the first Belgium boss to see his side score six goals in his first two matches since 1999 when Robert Waseige’s new side managed nine from their first pair of outings.
De Bruyne, whose 46 assists for his country are 15 more than any international team-mate since his August 2010 debut, lauded the early work Tedesco has delivered since Roberto Martinez’s exit.
“It was a nice match. The first 30 minutes were very good, full of effort. It’s good to see that we can be so good,” De Bruyne said on television channel VTM. “After that it was a bit more difficult, but it is logical that you also get into trouble against a team like Germany.
“The last quarter of an hour was hard, but it is good to see that this team can do that too. The combinations were there, defensively it was also pretty good. There were many positives.
“It’s fun to play like this, fun for everyone. Not only with the ball, also defensively. We try to put pressure on quickly and win the ball quickly. Then you get the ball back so much faster, that is also the intention of the coach. There were many good moments.
“The coach has already laid a certain foundation, for example in terms of structure. His way of playing is already a bit there, but there are of course also times when it is still a bit difficult.
“But after eight days together, I think this is the best we could do.”
Belgium crashed out in the group stages at the World Cup in Qatar as Martinez waved goodbye to what many deem a golden generation of international footballers for the Red Devils.
Martinez’s side finished third at FIFA’s top international tournament four years before at Russia 2018, sandwiched in between a pair of quarter-final eliminations at the European Championships.
8:26 – With 8 minutes and 26 seconds on the clock, the @BelRedDevils took their fastest 2-0 lead since February 2003 (within 7 minutes against Algeria). Supersonic. pic.twitter.com/30jBJ4aJUh
While it appears a vastly talented group of Belgian footballers may end their career without international reward, Tedesco’s new era has offered early promise.
A rare win over Germany, who were stunned by early goals from Yannick Carrasco and Romelu Lukaku, coupled with Friday’s 3-0 victory over Sweden in Euro 2024 qualifying have left Tedesco impressed.
“Yes, I am satisfied after these two victories,” Tedesco said on VTM. “Not only with the result, but also with the way we played. Only we should have finished the game in the first half.
“I wanted my players to show courage, to play forward and to claim the ball, even when Germany put pressure on us. We have the players for it. We have to believe in our own strengths, but we have to maintain the quality we bring for 90 minutes. And that’s the problem.”
Belgium’s elimination at the World Cup came as somewhat of a surprise, given their recent success at major tournaments, and Tedesco is out to offer his new players a lease of freedom.
“The players have qualities, they can play freely here and are allowed to make mistakes,” he said at his post-match press conference.
“The most important thing is that they develop as a team and as individuals. We must help and guide them in this.
“It is crucial that the enthusiasm is back. I have a good feeling and am extremely motivated. However, we still have a lot of work to do. If you win, it’s more fun, of course.
“But I do not agree that Belgian football was at a standstill after the World Cup. Losing matches at a World Cup, that can happen.”
After a recent slump by his own standards, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola wants Kevin De Bruyne to get back to the basics in order to find his best form again.
Due to recent illness, the two-time Premier League Player of the Season missed two games and has not played as vivaciously and actively as usual.
The Belgian struggled to make an impression against Newcastle United in Saturday’s 2-0 victory, occasionally turning the ball, and was eventually substituted by Bernardo Silva just before the hour.
De Bruyne had a spectacular goal in City’s 3-0 FA Cup victory over Bristol City last week, showing some form, but Guardiola claimed the first half was “passive” from him.
“Kevin, always the standards of Kevin are the sky,” Guardiola said.
“Everyone knows his level. In one week he has an opportunity to show his quality, delighted for the victory we had, this is what we have to do. Come back to principles, work hard.
“Everything will come back without any effort. Just do it your usual quality, your best.”
De Bruyne has scored four goals and provided 12 assists in the Premier League this season, with City sitting second, five points behind Arsenal.
City have a rare midweek break with no games scheduled, allowing Guardiola’s players an opportunity to rest and recover prior to Saturday’s league trip to Crystal Palace, before hosting RB Leipzig in their Champions League last-16 second leg.
Guardiola underlined the importance of both games to their season.
“We prepare good for the game against Crystal Palace, always was really difficult for us,” Guardiola said.
“And, of course, Leipzig, I have the same opinion that I had when we played them and after Burnley with Vinnie will come back here before the international break.
“If we are able to win the games, we are still alive in three competitions and that last part we will be there. If we lose, we will be out. Simple as that.
“Arrive in a stage when you are there that you know exactly when you lose games you lose competitions. Now is the moment that is going to happen.”
In contrast to Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden was noticeably absent from Manchester City’s lineup to face Wolves.
Several British journalists have referred to England player Foden as “not entirely fit,” and manager Pep Guardiola will undoubtedly be questioned about this.
De Bruyne and Aymeric Laporte were inserted into the starting lineup that defeated Tottenham 4-2 on Thursday, and Julian Alvarez and Nathan Ake were benched for the match on Sunday at the Etihad Stadium.
However, Foden’s absence was the primary talking point because he was not utilised during City’s comeback victory over Spurs in the middle of the week after falling behind by two goals.
Foden’s last start came in the 2-1 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford, where he was substituted after 57 minutes.
Victory for City against Wolves would move Guardiola’s side two points behind leaders Arsenal, who host Manchester United at Emirates Stadium later on Sunday.
Man City XI: Ederson; Rico Lewis, Manuel Akanji, John Stones, Aymeric Laporte; Ilkay Gundogan, Rodri; Jack Grealish, Kevin De Bruyne, Riyad Mahrez; Erling Haaland
🔵 𝘛𝘌𝘈𝘔 𝘕𝘌𝘞𝘚 🐺
XI | Ederson, Lewis, Stones, Akanji, Laporte, Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Gundogan (C), Mahrez, Grealish, Haaland
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed Kevin De Bruyne is in contention for Thursday’s match against Tottenham after dealing with a “personal issue”.
Belgium international De Bruyne did not take part in training with the rest of his City team-mates on Tuesday, with his absence initially thought to be down to an injury problem.
The 31-year-old was therefore considered a major doubt to face Spurs, but Guardiola dismissed those fears on the eve of the Premier League meeting.
“He had a personal issue and could not train [on Tuesday], but today he is back,” Guardiola said at Wednesday’s pre-match press conference.
Asked if De Bruyne is available for Tottenham’s visit to the Etihad Stadium, Guardiola replied: “Yes, yes.”
De Bruyne has assisted 15 goals this season – 10 more than next-best Bernardo Silva – and has created more than double the number of chances of any team-mate (80).
In a further boost for City, Guardiola also revealed centre-backs Ruben Dias and John Stones have recovered from injury lay-offs and could play a part against Tottenham.
Dias has not played since sustaining a hamstring injury with Portugal at the World Cup, while Stones has missed City’s past two matches.
“They are back. They have trained really well in the last two sessions, both of them. They are in contention,” Guardiola said.
“We are going to train this afternoon and see the way we have to play and who is going to play.”
City have lost four of their past five Premier League games against Tottenham, which is as many as they had in their previous 19 against them.
Indeed, Guardiola has lost six of his 15 meetings with Spurs – only against Chelsea (eight), Liverpool (eight) and Manchester United (seven) has he lost more often in his managerial career.
The reigning English champions have lost back-to-back matches in all competitions and trail Premier League leaders Arsenal by eight points.
Following Belgium’s unexpected World Cup loss to Morocco, Jan Vertonghen appeared to poke fun at teammates Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard.
As the penultimate opportunity for the Red Devils’ golden generation to win a championship, Roberto Martinez’s team fell far short of their potential as late goals from Romain Saiss and Zakaria Aboukhlal gave the Atlas Lions a 2-0 triumph.
When Belgium lost to France in the World Cup semifinals by a score of 1-0, De Bruyne and Hazard argued that an aging Belgium was better suited to win the tournament before the Group F matchup.
“We are too old. I think our chance [to win] was in 2018,” the Manchester City midfielder said. “We have a good team, but it is getting older.
“We lost key players. We have good new players coming in, but they are not at the level of other players in 2018. I see us more as underdogs.”
Skipper Hazard, who feels his side had “greater chances” of glory in Russia, added: “We don’t have the three fastest centre-backs in the world, but they know that.”
Belgium has scored the fewest goals through two World Cup games since the tournament’s inception in 1930 after scoring none against Morocco after defeating Canada 1-0. (none).
Vertonghen appeared to take a dig at his team-mates when addressing the media in the mixed zone following the loss. “I guess we attack badly because we are also too old up front,” he said.
Defeat to 2018 runners-up Croatia in their final Group F match on Thursday would result in an early exit from the competition, and Thibaut Courtois insists the Red Devils must raise their game.
“We know that Croatia are an excellent team, they have talent and are well-organised,” he said. “They are good at counter-attacks, one-on-one and have no flaws.
“It will be like a final – after all, they are the finalists of the last World Cup. So far, we haven’t played adequately in this tournament, if we want to win we have to level up.”
Kevin De Bruyne was named player of the match in Belgium’s 1-0 win against Canada in their World Cup opener on Wednesday, but he was unsure why.
Belgium were second-best for large parts of the Group F contest at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, with Thibaut Courtois having to save a penalty from Alphonso Davies before Michy Batshuayi scored what proved to be the winner.
De Bruyne cut a frustrated figure as little came off for him on the night, and he was as confused as anyone as to why he had been awarded player of the match.
“I don’t think I played a great game, I don’t know why I got the trophy – maybe because of my name,” he said at a post-match press conference.
“We just didn’t play well as a team, especially in the first half.
“We started really badly, the momentum was with Canada and we couldn’t break through the press. I think there was more space than we thought.
“I don’t think we played a good game, me included, but we found a way to win.”
De Bruyne completed just 23 of his 33 passes (70 per cent), though did still create four chances, three more than any of his team-mates.
“When I saw the way we played I thought we were playing long too much, there was more space,” he added when asked about a confrontation with Toby Alderweireld immediately after the goal in the first half.
“You have to attract the pressing, play short and cross that line, but I don’t think we were brave enough to find that position.
“At half-time we cleared it up and things are OK, no hard feelings with Toby.”
Belgium head coach Roberto Martinez also acknowledged his team had not played well, but praised them for getting the three points.
Pep Guardiola’s new contract with Manchester City will see him remain at the Etihad Stadium until 2025, when he will mark nine years at the club.
The Catalan coach has already remained in the Premier League for longer than he has at his previous roles with Barcelona and Bayern Munich, finding a home within English football and establishing a dominant force with his City side.
Throughout his six and a half years in charge so far, Guardiola has been in charge of numerous superstars and club legends, with an all-time squad that would be of envy for any manager in world football.
But how exactly do you break that down into a full XI? We have taken on the task and done exactly that.
Ederson
Guardiola made a bold choice upon his arrival in Manchester, swiftly making it clear England international Joe Hart, a two-time Premier League winner, would not fit into his plans moving forward. After a disappointing season with Claudio Bravo, Ederson arrived in 2017 and has been number one ever since.
All of Ederson’s 260 appearances across all competitions have come as a starter, higher than any other player under Guardiola, while he sits fifth in the list for total appearances under the Catalan boss.
Kyle Walker
Signed from Tottenham Hotspur in 2017, Kyle Walker has been a mainstay in the City side that has dominated domestic football over the course of the past five years, ranking fifth for the most starts under Guardiola in all competitions (207).
Walker’s versatility has been a key benefit for Guardiola and England, with his attacking play also fitting into City’s style of play well. Since arriving at City, Walker has contributed 17 assists across all competitions, behind only Joao Cancelo (20) among defenders.
Aymeric Laporte
Among defenders during Guardiola’s spell in charge, only John Stones and Walker have started more games than Laporte (155), with both players having joined the club in the seasons before Laporte’s arrival from Athletic Bilbao in January 2018.
A total of 163 appearances across all competitions puts him narrowly ahead of Nicolas Otamendi (161) for most games under Guardiola.
John Stones
Snapped up in 2016 as one of Guardiola’s first signings, Stones has had to contend with incredible competition for his spot at the heart of the defence, with the likes of Laporte, Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake all drafted in.
Despite that, Stones continues to be an important player for City and has made 175 starts under Guardiola and 206 appearances overall, ranking second in both among defenders behind only Walker.
Joao Cancelo
The versatile Portuguese full-back moved to City in 2019 from Juventus and has excelled for City, tallying 149 total appearances and 135 starts in all competitions since joining the club, and provides a huge boost in the attacking third.
A total of 20 assists puts him above any defender during Guardiola’s spell in charge, even those who have been at the club far longer.
Kevin de Bruyne
Few players fit the Guardiola philosophy more than De Bruyne, who has hit new heights under the former Barcelona boss to stand among the finest players in world football – with a record in front of goal that many would envy.
De Bruyne has registered 117 assists under Guardiola, way ahead of second-place Raheem Sterling (66), while he has scored 73 goals – only behind Gabriel Jesus, Sterling and Sergio Aguero.
Ilkay Gundogan
With 205 starts under Guardiola, the midfielder has been an integral part of the City side since following the Catalan from Germany to Manchester, ranking only behind Walker, David Silva, Sterling, De Bruyne and Ederson in that regard.
Only six players have scored more goals under Guardiola than Gundogan (51), who ranks ninth for the most assists (33).
Fernandinho
The rock of City’s midfield for years, Fernandinho started 200 games under Guardiola and made a total of 244 appearances, the latter seeing him rank behind only Ederson, Bernardo Silva, Gundogan, De Bruyne and Sterling.
A total of 12 goals and 16 assists in those matches represents a decent return for a player renowned more for his defensive strength.
Bernardo Silva
Slotting into the attack ahead of Phil Foden and David Silva, both of whom have a stellar record under Guardiola, Bernardo Silva narrowly gets the nod due to his own impressive numbers in the final third.
Silva has 104 direct goal contributions (50 goals, 54 assists) in 273 appearances, starting in 208 of those matches. Only Sterling and De Bruyne have more assists under Guardiola, while Silva is one of eight players to hit the half-century mark for goals.
Sergio Aguero
In the future, Aguero’s spot in the team is likely to be under significant threat from Erling Haaland following his blistering start to life at City, but the Argentine superstar retains the edge for the time being.
Aguero scored 124 goals under Guardiola, more than any other player, with Sterling the only other to have broken the century mark. Those goals came in just 183 appearances with Guardiola in charge, displaying his deadly ability in front of the net.
Raheem Sterling
An unsung hero of the Guardiola era, Sterling played 292 times under the Catalan boss, more than anyone else, while only Aguero scored more goals than Sterling (120).
Sterling also contributed 66 assists under Guardiola, sitting behind only De Bruyne, and is the only player to have scored over 100 goals and added over 50 assists under the Catalan boss.
The best players across the globe will soon swap their club kits and report for international duty. To represent their countries in a fight for the greatest prize in all of soccer: the FIFA World Cup. Yes, the world’s marquee sporting event has arrived. We’re a few days away from kicking off the first ever World Cup during the winter. While most aren’t the biggest soccer aficionados, everyone tunes in to the World Cup in some capacity. From watching the matches, to keeping tabs on headlines and consuming all the content, the 2022 World Cup in Qatar is finally upon us. Here is a list of some of the players, not in order, that you should watch for this tournament.
Lionel Messi – Argentina
Leo Messi accepting defeat at the 2014 World Cup Final. Image via Getty
Touted as one of the greatest to most and the GOATto many, PSG’s Lionel Messi goes into the World Cup in fine form with the best Argentina side since they made a run to the Final in 2014. In what is likely his final chance to add a World Cup trophy to all his accolades and silverware, he leads an impressive Argentina team that is on a 35-match unbeaten streak. Considered a dark horse to win the World Cup, this team always has a chance to take it all with Messi dominating the pitch with his brilliance. Expect him to pour everything he has into his final chance at locking up the glory for his country and the undisputed GOAT title.
Cristiano Ronaldo – Portugal
Image via Francois Nel/Getty
Dominating headlines and the sport for well over a decade plus with his talent and charisma, Cristiano Ronaldo enters his final World Cup with a strong Portuguese side. Despite him not being in his best form following a major rift between him and Manchester United to start the club season, this Portugal team is in good position to make a deep run. Ronaldo is always a threat to score goals and with one of the best teams he’s lined up with in this tournament you can expect their talisman to turn it on for his country. Like Messi, his GOAT status can be secured if the Seleção das Quinas lift the World Cup Trophy in December especially after a rough stretch with Man United.
Neymar Jr. – Brazil
Image via Getty/Michael Reaves
As one of the if not the most exciting players to watch for club and country, Neymar leads Brazil into the 2022 World Cup as the favorites to win it all. He is in the form of his life at the moment, netting goals and assists for PSG with relative ease. While the favorite for the World Cup has never won it all, he looks to add to his legacy as one of the greatest footballers of all time. If you thought his Paris Saint Germain team was stacked, the Brazil squad has the talent to win it all and then some but he is undoubtedly the best player on his team and possibly the entire tournament this year. He should be an easy favorite for the Golden Boot this tournament.
Kylian Mbappe – France
Image via Getty/Ryan Pierse
With news of Karim Benzema picking up an injury just before their first group stage game, Kylian Mbappe becomes even more important for the reigning champions. They’ve suffered a handful of injuries and losing the Ballon d’Or Benz is huge but Mbappe has proven before he can carry a team with his pace, ability, and skill. The young stud has a clinical precision for goal and is considered one of the best when it comes to burying it in the net. Erling Haaland has recently taken the mantle for best young player in the world with a scorching start for Man City but with a strong run for France he can easily claim that back. It’s incredibly hard to repeat in the World Cup yet if Mbappe is in form there is no stopping his prowess on the pitch.
Harry Kane – England
Image via Getty/Michael Regan
Despite never securing a trophy in his entire footballing career for club and country, Harry Kane enters the 2022 World Cup with one of his best chances. This English national team is one of their strongest sides in quite some time and the Tottenham Spurs striker should relish many goal scoring opportunities to put on for his country. Could it be coming home? That will rely on Kane putting in the finest performances of his career with a team that continues to ascend the national team ranks. He will be extremely important for England and could challenge for the Golden Boot if they make a deeper run into the knockout stages.
Kevin De Bruyne – Belgium
Image via Getty/Dean Mouhtaropoulos
Considered the best midfielder in the game at the moment and he hasn’t even reached his peak yet. Manchester City and Belgium’s KDB is a boss on the pitch. One of the best international teams of the decade despite not winning any major trophies, his team made an epic run to the Semis in the 2018 World Cup but lost to Croatia. Expect him to control the game for his side as the best player on the team and push the Belgians forward to and deep into the knockout stages. He is a must watch talent and one of the finest players in the entire sport.
Christian Pulisic – USA
Image via Getty/Silvestre Szpylma
Captain America debuts in his first World Cup as the USMNT returns to international football after missing out on the biggest stage in 2018. At this stage in his career, Pulisic is still fighting for first team minutes with Chelsea but he knows how to make an impact in his limited time. Yet while he plays international football, Pulisic is their most important player. He’s the leader and arguably the best player that the United States has ever produced to play the beautiful game. Yes, he’s already up there with Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey. Will he add to his legacy? Team USA will need him firing on all cylinders to make a deeper run with their young squad and he’s more than capable as he suits up for the red, white and blue.
Pedri – Spain
Image via Getty/Fran Santiago
One of the game’s youngest stars suits up for one of the youngest Spanish sides the country has ever fielded for a World Cup. Arriving in Barcelona two years ago and breaking out for the club in such a short time frame, Spain’s wunderkind is oozing with talent. Despite being only 19 years old, he finds himself as his team’s most important player and one of the critical pieces to their success during this WC. Claiming both the 2021 Golden Boy and Kopa Trophy, both awarded to the best player under 21, the kid has a balled out in any competition he competes in. He will shine and continue to ascend the ranks as one of the best in the game.
Federico Valverde – Uruguay
Image via Getty/Alberto Valdez
Coming off a breakout season at Real Madrid where he’s pivoted from the midfield to the right wing for Real Madrid, it seems Fede is tapping into a new level. He’s a fixture on the reigning UCL Champs club’s starting XI and now has found himself banging screamers into the net to kick off the new season. The ever so versatile player continues to become more well-rounded with experience and will be extremely important for a true dark horse in Uruguay to win it all. Finding himself as a scorer only adds to the strong side’s chances. Look for him to break out on an international level this 2022 World Cup.
Jamal Musiala
Image via Getty
Bayern Munich’s latest phenom looks to take the international stage by storm. Musiala is only 19 years old but has tallied 22 goal contributions, 12 goals and 10 assists, in just 22 games meaning he has a huge impact for Germany’s biggest football club this season.
While the German international team is relatively experienced, the young yet gifted attacking midfielder can impact the game with just a single touch on the pitch.
He is extremely talented, slicing through opposing defense at will and will be a menace for the opposition to contain.
Belgium‘s final warm-up match before the World Cup ended in defeat as Mostafa Mohamed and Trezeguet struck to earn Egypt a 2-1 victory in Kuwait.
Mohamed took advantage of an uncharacteristic mistake from Kevin De Bruyne to fire the Pharaohs into the lead, before Trezeguet scored a minute after half-time to put them two goals to the good.
Lois Openda reduced the deficit with a close-range finish but they could not find an equaliser as Roberto Martinez’s men fell to a second consecutive defeat.
The defeat exposed serious defensive deficiencies for Belgium ahead of their trip to Qatar, where they are hoping to better their run to the semi-finals at the 2018 World Cup.
Belgium hit the bar within 10 minutes when Michy Batshuayi rattled the woodwork, though replays later showed the former Chelsea man was clearly offside.
After Thibaut Courtois twice denied Trezeguet, Arthur Theate sent a long-range curler looping onto the top of the net.
Mohamed gave Egypt the lead, capitalising on De Bruyne’s poor touch before side-footing beautifully into the bottom right corner from outside the box.
Mohamed El Shenawy then made a big stop to save Yannick Carrasco’s fierce drive and preserve his side’s lead heading into the interval.
Egypt doubled their lead moments after the break, Trezeguet latching onto Mohamed Salah’s excellent throughball before rifling home as Belgium continued to look shaky at the back.
Martinez’s men screamed for a penalty when half-time substitute Openda was felled by Ahmed Hegazy but a VAR review decided not to award a spot-kick.
Belgium pressed to pull a goal back but they struggled to break though Egypt’s resolute defence, with Youri Tielemans firing well over from range almost out of frustration.
They did find a goal back through Openda when he was picked out by a superb Carrasco cross but they could not kick on and find an equaliser.
What does it mean? Belgium head to World Cup out of form
Belgium are ranked second in the world by FIFA but they looked a million miles from that against Egypt in both attack and defence.
Martinez’s men rarely threatened and completed the match with just 0.64 xG (expected goals). They also looked a liability at the back despite holding 67.4 per cent of the possession as Egypt finished with a superior 0.76 xG.
Terrific Trezeguet
Trezeguet was a constant threat and could have finished with more than just the one goal had his finishing been more clinical.
The former Aston Villa man finished the game with four shots, all on target, while he ranked highest on his team for touches in Belgium’s box (three) and total xG (0.61).
Rare De Bruyne mistake
Egypt were set on their way to victory by De Bruyne‘s heavy touch when in seemingly no danger just outside his own penalty area, which Mohamed ruthlessly punished.
The Manchester City midfielder was taken off at the break after a poor 45 minutes by his lofty standards, failing to register a shot or a touch in Egypt’s box as his usual attacking output was missing.
What’s next?
Belgium get their World Cup campaign underway against Canada on Wednesday, while Egypt’s absence from the tournament means they will not be back in action until 2023.
Belgium head coach Roberto Martinez claims that Kevin De Bruyne is the “most incredible playmaker in world football”.
“It’s a message for all our fans, don’t take for granted watching Kevin De Bruyne play,” Martinez told reporters. “For me he’s the most incredible playmaker in world football at this present time.
“His way of seeing the game, his way of seeing the time and space and then the execution in front of goal,” he added.
The Manchester City midfielder dazzled with a goal and an assist in Belgium’s 2-1 win over Wales in the Nations League on Thursday.
De Bruyne, who is the reigning Premier League Player of the Season, also had a first-half shot hit the post.
“I thought his performance was magical today. But he’s been doing that, I look back at Poland [1-0 win in June], at home, he’s been doing that consistently. Sometimes I look at him, we’re so lucky to have a player like Kevin,” Martinez said.
The 31-year-old’s 2021-22 Premier League Player of the Season gong was the second of his career, also earning the honour in 2019-20. He currently leads the Premier League with six assists this term.
The former Wolfsburg, Werder Bremen and Genk midfielder has had a decorated career, starting with winning the Bundesliga Player of the Year in 2014-15.
More recently, De Bruyne is a four-time PFA Premier League Team of the Year member and has helped City to four Premier League titles. He also won the 2019-20 Champions League Midfielder of the Season.
The Belgian was named as one of the nominees last month for this year’s Ballon d’Or with the winner to be announced in October, having finished eighth in 2021.
Kevin De Bruyne was on target as Belgium kept their faint hopes of progressing to the Nations League Finals alive with a 2-1 victory over Wales.
De Bruyne opened the scoring and set up the second goal for Michy Batshuayi at the King Baudouin Stadium, as the Red Devilsremained three points behind leaders Netherlands in Group A4.
Kieffer Moore pulled one back for Wales, but the Dragons must now beat Poland on Sunday to have any chance of avoiding relegation from League A.
The Red Devils, whose head coach Roberto Martinez was sent from the touchline for time-wasting, need an emphatic win over the Dutch when they meet on Sunday to reach the Finals.
Belgium took just 10 minutes to break through as De Bruyne applied a wonderful first-time finish to Batshuayi’s lay-off to the edge of the penalty area.
Youri Tielemans steered Yannick Carrasco’s cross off target and Batshuayi fired over from a tight angle as the Red Devils continued to dominate, while the woodwork denied De Bruyne a second goal as he rattled the post from 20 yards out.
Eden Hazard then curled narrowly wide before the hosts doubled their lead in the 37th minute. This time, De Bruyne was the provider; sweeping in a pinpoint cross for Batshuayi to touch home.
Ethan Ampadu called Thibaut Courtois into action with Wales’ first attempt on goal, while Wayne Hennessey denied De Bruyne at the other end.
The visitors halved the deficit within five minutes of the restart as Moore rose to head home Brennan Johnson’s inviting cross.
Rob Page introduced Gareth Bale in the 64th minute and the Los Angeles FC forward went close soon after; Toby Alderweireld deflecting his header over from Dan James’ centre.
VAR overturned a Belgian penalty later on, but the hosts held on for maximum points after Martinez was ordered from the touchline in stoppage time.
What does it mean? Belgium still in the hunt
Belgium can still progress to the Nations League finals after Thursday’s win in Brussels.
But following the Netherlands’ 2-0 success over Poland, the Red Devils must record at least a 4-1 victory over the Dutch in the Group A4 decider to dislodge them at the summit.
As for Wales, they must beat Poland by two goals to avoid relegation from League A.
De Bruyne instrumental once more
Once again, De Bruyne played a starring role for his side with another commanding display in the middle of the park.
The Manchester City midfielder found the back of the net and provided an assist, while he also recorded game-high tallies of key passes (seven), crosses (six), shots (five), and efforts on target (three).
Batshuayi continues impressive form
Though he recorded just 22 touches and 15 passes, Batshuayi maintained his rich vein of form on the international stage with another goal and assist.
The Fenerbahce striker has now been directly involved in seven goals (scored four, assisted three) in his last seven games for his country.
What’s next?
Both sides conclude their Nations League campaigns on Sunday. Belgium travel to the Netherlands for the Group A4 decider, with Wales hosting Poland in the battle to avoid relegation.
Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne has said criticisms hurled against his colleague Jack Grealish are “not about football”.
He said this is so intense only because he plays for England.
“It is not about football,” De Bruyne said. “Outside of football, the focus is more on [England players]. I understand because they are English and people tend to look more what is happening,” he is quoted to have said.
“I feel like foreign players… for instance, if you have a night out, we don’t really get checked that often. Whereas I feel if an English player goes out, it is always in the media somewhere,” he added.
Grealish joined Manchester City in a £100million British-record transfer in 2021 but has not yet produced the same output as he had at Aston Villa.
After six goals and 10 assists in 26 Premier League games for Villa in 2020-21, Grealish contributed only three goals and three assists in the same number of appearances in his debut City campaign.
The start to the 2022-23 season has again been slow, although the England winger netted his first goal in Saturday’s 3-0 win at Wolves.
De Bruyne’s cross teed up that early opener, and the City midfielder has come to the defence of his team-mate, whose lifestyle has also been scrutinised since signing for Pep Guardiola’s side.
According to Kevin De Bruyne, “What he does in his private life, he does, nobody should care, but people do.”
Ahhh man that felt good 🥰🫶🏻 great win going into the international break! Away fans were incredible 💙 P:S thanks @KevinDeBruyne about time 😘🅰️ pic.twitter.com/13szVVyUNq
Grealish has a different role at City, having been Villa’s chief creator, crafting 81 chances in his final season at his boyhood club but only 53 last year.
And De Bruyne also points out there are contrasting expectations playing for the champions, meaning Grealish should have been given time to adapt.
Reigning Premier League champions Manchester Citywill be well aware of the threat posed by Crystal Palace when they host the Eagles for a 3pm kick-off on Saturday.
Palace’s record of two wins and a draw from their last four Premier League games at the Etihad speaks for itself and they have already upset the apple cart this season, nabbing a point at Anfield earlier this month.
Pep Guardiola’s men, who showed their mettle when coming from two goals down on Tyneside, can expect to face another couple of deadly dribblers in the visiting Eagles team this weekend, with Wilfried Zaha and Eberechi Eze both starting the season in fine form.
Team news
City’s latest injury problem concerns Kalvin Phillips, who sustained an injury in their midweek friendly with Barcelona at the Camp Nou.
The England midfielder had only played one minute of Premier League football in the first three games of the campaign, but his loss comes at a time when Guardiola would have been looking to rotate more.
Aymeric Laporte remains sidelined after undergoing knee surgery over the summer, while Jack Grealish (ligament) and Nathan Ake (groin) are both doubts.
Ruben Dias, who replaced Ake in the first half against the Magpies last Sunday, is set to be recalled at centre-back — alongside John Stones, Kyle Walker and Joao Cancelo in City’s back four.
Patrick Vieira experimented with his formation in Palace’s 1-1 draw with Liverpool two weeks ago, opting for a 5-4-1 at Anfield, and could re-implement the system on Saturday.
That would probably see Odsonne Edouard, one of only two from last weekend’s line-up to start against Oxford in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday, dropping back down to the bench.
Zaha would switch back to a roaming role in attack with Nathaniel Clyne returning to a full-back role and Joel Ward moving inside as one of three central defenders.
Edouard’s place is under threat even if Vieira sticks with a 4-3-3 system that was deployed at home to Aston Villa last weekend after fellow striker Jean-Philippe Mateta popped up with a crucial goal off the bench.
On the injury front, James McArthur is doubtful with a groin problem, while James Tomkins (calf), Jack Butland (broken wrist) and Nathan Ferguson (foot) all remain sidelined for the visitors.
The stats
Wilfried Zaha has made a fine start to the season
City have lost just two of their last 54 league games played at 3pm on Saturdays, both of those defeats came against Palace.
City (3.77) and Palace (2.93) finished first and second for the most expected goals created in the division last weekend.
De Bruyne has assisted goals in all three of City’s Premier League matches this term and his 12 chances created is the most of any player in the top flight.
Eze, who has been involved in six goals in his last eight league starts away from home, has recorded the most successful dribbles (14) in the division.
Eagles winger Zaha is off to a flying start in 2022-23, netting three times in three appearances after registering a career-best 14 goals last term.
Prediction
City cannot take anything for granted against the Eagles this weekend and will probably refocus on solidifying their structure after the rare occurrence of them conceding three times last weekend.
Palace’s objective will be to block off all the usual passing lanes that Guardiola’s men are trained to exploit, which is where five across the back will stand them in good stead in defending the wide overloads City love to create.
Zaha could be cut adrift in attack, however, and that will limit their prospects of counter-attacking on City or earning attacking set-pieces from which to score.
The champions could well win this with a clean sheet if it all goes to plan, although they will be made to work hard for their openings.
Manchester City’s Kevin de Bruyne and Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo join a trio of Liverpool players among nominations for the Professional Footballers’ Association men’s players’ player of the year award.
Forwards Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah, along with centre-back Virgil van Dijk are the three Reds names on the list.
Tottenham’s Harry Kane is also included but the league’s joint top scorer Son Heung-min has not been nominated.
The winner will be revealed on 9 June.
Premier League winner De Bruyne was City’s top scorer and assist provider this season with 15 goals and eight assists. He has already been voted the 2021-22 Premier League player of the season.
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool dominate the list having won two domestic cups, come within one point of winning the Premier League and reached the Champions League final, only to lose to Real Madrid.
Salah, the league’s joint top scorer along with Spurs’ Son, scored 23 times and he also ended the campaign with 13 assists, which saw him secure the Premier League’s playmaker award.
Mane was Liverpool’s second highest scorer with 16.
Netherlands captain Van Dijk helped the Reds concede only 26 goals in 38 league games, the joint least with champions City.
Kane was last season’s Golden Boot winner, sharing the award with Salah, and it comes as a surprise that the England skipper, who scored 17 goals this year, makes the shortlist rather than Spurs’ top scorer Son.
Six-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo is perhaps another unexpected name in the nominations after Manchester United finished sixth, 13 points off Champions League qualification.
However, bar Son and Salah, Ronaldo was the Premier League’s top scorer with 18.
PFA Young Player Award
Manchester City’s Phil Foden scored 14 goals in all competitions this season
City’s Phil Foden is among six players nominated for the Professional Footballers’ Association men’s young player of the year award.
The 22-year-old, who won last season’s PFA young player award, is joined by Arsenal pair Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe in an all-English line-up.
Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher, defender Reece James from Chelsea and Aston Villa midfielder Jacob Ramsey complete the shortlist.
Despite missing the first month of the season with an injury he picked up with England at Euro 2020, Foden registered nine goals and five assists for Pep Guardiola’s Premier League-winning side.
With 11 goals, Saka was Arsenal’s top scorer in the Premier League this season and also provided the joint-highest number of assists for them – tying with Alexandre Lacazette on seven.
Meanwhile, Saka’s team-mate Emile Smith Rowe, who won his first England caps this season, was second on the Gunners’ league goalscoring list with 10.
Gallagher, who has just completed a season’s loan at Crystal Palace from Chelsea, scored eight goals for Patrick Vieira’s side and made his England debut in November.
Chelsea defender James completes a family double with his nomination – as sister is on the women’s young player shortlist.
He scored five goals and provided nine assists this season, while offering defensive solidity in a side who conceded fewer goals in this season’s Premier League than every other side bar Manchester City and Liverpool.
Aston Villa’s Ramsey has flourished under the management of Steven Gerrard and established himself as a first-team regular this season, picking up the club’s players’ player of the season award.
Manchester City‘s Kevin de Bruyne has been voted the 2021-22 Premier League player of the season, while team-mate Phil Foden was named best young player.
Belgium midfielder De Bruyne has scored 15 goals and registered seven assists, with City top of the league before the final day of the campaign on Sunday.
“To win this award for a second time is an achievement that I am really proud of,” he said.
Foden, 21, is the first player to win his prize in successive seasons.
De Bruyne, 30, was chosen after the votes from the public on the Premier League website were combined with those of the 20 Premier League club captains and a panel of football experts.
His City team-mate Joao Cancelo, Liverpool pair Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold, West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen, Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka, Tottenham forward Son Heung-min and Southampton midfielder James Ward-Prowse were also nominated.
De Bruyne also claimed the honour in 2019-20 and joins Thierry Henry, Cristiano Ronaldo and Nemanja Vidic in winning it more than once.
“There is so much quality in the Premier League and it is a pleasure to be nominated with so many other great players who have had incredible seasons for their clubs,” added De Bruyne.
“I think my performances this season have been good and I am happy that I have been able to contribute with goals and assists throughout the season.”
Foden secured the most combined votes from the public and a Premier League panel, to win the young player trophy for a second time.
The England international has scored nine goals and provided five assists this season.
Foden beat Alexander-Arnold, Crystal Palace’s on-loan Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher, Palace full-back Tyrick Mitchell, Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount, Arsenal duo Aaron Ramsdale and Saka, and West Ham midfielder Declan Rice to the award for players aged 23 or under.
“I’m very proud to have won for a second season in a row,” he said.
“I have been really happy with my performances this season and it has been great to contribute to this team in what will hopefully be another successful year for us all.
“To be nominated alongside so many great players is an honour as they have all had great seasons for their clubs.”
De Bruyne and Foden can help City retain the Premier League title on Sunday – when they host Aston Villa – as their side go into the final round of fixtures one point ahead of rivals Liverpool, who are at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Gabriel Jesus feels Manchester City have let down their assist king Kevin De Bruyne this season, saying the Belgium star could have had 30 assists were it not for his team-mates’ wastefulness.
Jesus and De Bruyne were on target during the second half when City beat Real Madrid 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu back in February.
The long-awaited second leg of the Champions League last-16 tie takes place behind closed doors at the Etihad Stadium on Friday.
De Bruyne heads into the contest after a stunning domestic season where he matched Thierry Henry’s Premier League record of 20 assists in a single campaign.
Still, Brazil striker Jesus feels that number could have been much higher, insisting City were frequently wasteful in front of goal despite scoring 102 times in the league.
“I think every game he can make three or four assists for us,” he told the club’s website.
“This season we miss a lot of goals, if not Kevin would have 30 assists. He is so good.
“He has so much quality and he always looks to the strikers. It is so good playing with him.”
Praise has not always been so forthcoming for Jesus, who is likely to lead the City attack in Sergio Aguero’s injury absence against the La Liga champions.
The 23-year-old did impress, however, in the initial clash deployed on the left flank to fine effect in an experimental 4-4-2 system that featured De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva as false nines until the closing stages.
“I don’t think it is my best performance,” Jesus said of the game at the Santiago Bernabeu. “It was a top game. I scored and helped the team and that’s why people say that.
“They [Madrid] played so good. It is so difficult to go there and play against them.
“We suffered in the first 15-20 minutes and after we played well. We started to play our football and after we came back and could have scored three.
“We played so good with the ball, but without the ball we played one of the best games I have seen since I came to play here.”
Kevin De Bruyne is a doubt for Sunday’s Manchester derby after missing City’s FA Cup victory over Sheffield Wednesday with a shoulder injury, according to manager Pep Guardiola.
Guardiola said the Belgian landed awkwardly on his back and shoulder in the latter stages of Sunday’s Carabao Cup final victory over Aston Villa at Wembley.
The 28-year-old did not travel to Hillsborough for Wednesday’s fifth-round tie, which City won 1-0, and Guardiola is unsure if he will be fit for Sunday’s clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford, live on Sky Sports Premier League.
Speaking in his post-match press conference, Guardiola said: “Kevin had a problem here [points to shoulder]. He was not fit.
“In the last game, the last minutes he fell down in a bad position and had a problem in his back. We don’t know how long [he will be out]. Hopefully not much.”
Asked if he would be fit for the derby, Guardiola added: “I don’t know.”
City were not overly troubled by their Sky Bet Championship hosts at Hillsborough but were made to work hard for their victory by the spirited hosts.
A firm left-foot finish from Sergio Aguero, which squirmed under goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith on 53 minutes, proved the difference and means City, the holders, will travel to Newcastle in the quarter-finals.
“This is our fourth game away in a row and we have another one on Sunday at Old Trafford,” Guardiola added. “We spent a lot of mental energy in the last games and then came here.
“But the players were absolutely ready, we didn’t concede one shot on target and that means a lot for our capacity to read the game. At the end we scored a goal and could have scored much, much more.”
Guardiola felt the game would put City in good heart for the derby, adding: “It’s better to go there winning games, being in the FA Cup, than being out.
“Tomorrow we’re going to watch a little bit of United versus Derby to analyse what they have done the last game, and we’re going to go there to try to win.”
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