Kevin De Bruyne has been in imperious form recently, and he showed he can get even better yesterday night when he puppeteered a magnificent victory for Manchester City against a decent Bournemouth outfit.
He scored one, with a delightful Ronaldinho-esque free kick under the wall, and played in Ilkay Gundogan for his debut goal with a sumptuous through ball.
He was also heavily involved leading up to the other two goals. Simply put, he was irresistible and was awarded the Man of the Match award for his class and heroics.
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His manager, Pep Guardiola couldn't stop raving about the Belgian in the press conference after the Bournemouth win. “I think Kevin is a special player,” he said.
“An outstanding player. He makes everything. Without the ball, he is a fighter; and with the ball, it is clear what he can do.”
The Catalan praised his decision-making ability on the field, “He always decides what to do right every single time. Sometimes you have to pass, sometimes the first touch, sometimes control, sometimes go and every time he decides the right decision. That’s why I am lucky to have him and I think he can enjoy his amazing football with us”
He heaped more praise on the Belgian, “He is one of the best players I have worked with. When we talk about Messi, he is on his own on the table. It is not allowed, anyone else there. But in the table beside, Kevin can sit there”
High praise coming from a man who has had the pleasure of managing the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Thierry Henry, Andres Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez, Xabi Alonso, Arjen Robben and Thomas Muller amongst a bevy of other superstars.
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He added that de Bruyne would probably end up challenging for the title of Best Player in the world soon, “Of course, he is one of the best, there is no doubt about that. To be the best in the league, it depends if he is going to win the titles.”
“There will be big challenges to that. Maybe I think he would like to win individual prizes — because every player does — but I already think he is happy when he plays like today.”
Sterling comes in for praise from Pep
Guardiola seems to have settled in well at Manchester City and was full of praise for the other players as well, including the much maligned Raheem Sterling.
“I always say to Raheem that when Aleksandar Kolarov attacks to the half way line: 'Don’t stay narrow, stay wide. And when you receive the ball, you decide' So with his dribbling in the second half, these slaloms, I’m not involved. I don’t want to be humble but that is his own quality.
He added, “I try to tell the players who can dribble: 'Do it.' The players who don’t have that quality: 'Pass the ball.' He has started really well”
The perfectionist in him also came out as he said that is was a more complete performance than their 5-0 midweek thrashing of German side Borussia Monchengladbach. “I’m happy with the performance which was much better than against Borussia Monchengladbach”
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