Pep Guardiola said that he wants more of kevin debruyne ahead of Manchester City’s Champions League tie with RB Leipzig.
De Bruyne tops the Premier League assists chart with 12, but he hasn’t always been a regular starter since returning from the World Cup.
– Broadcast on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (USA)
The Belgium international has been on the bench for three of the last seven league games and was substituted early in the 2-0 win over Newcastle United at the Etihad Stadium earlier this month.
“It’s been a difficult season, I would say for everyone, myself included, because of the World Cup and many things, so I would say the same, I’m not going to discover Kevin,” Guardiola told a news conference on Monday. .
“Kevin has the ability to do it. What I would like, I talked to him many times, is to go to the easy beginnings and do it well. He has an incredible ability to make an assist, score goals and see passes like nobody else.
“But I always have the belief that they will get bigger and better when the simple things, like not losing the ball, the mobility, the incredible ability to be active in the movement, the simple things, come back to make it better and better.”
“When the simple things are done perfectly, we are at the right time; move outside, inside and when we have to attack the channels or whatever you do or feel at that moment the actions to create incredible passes that he, only him , – can find, it will be easier, it will be better”.
City take on RB Leipzig at the Etihad on Tuesday after a 1-1 first-leg draw in Germany. De Bruyne missed the game through illness but he is likely to start the second leg after coming on as a late substitute in a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday.
City have not been knocked out before the Champions League quarter-final since losing to Monaco in the round of 16 in 2017, but Guardiola warned his players that Leipzig pose a major threat to that record.
“In the first half (in Leipzig) we were better, in the second half they were better,” Guardiola added.
“We watched the game and we’re trying to figure out what we’re going to do. We’re going to try to adjust a few things that maybe help us get more control and play a little better.”
“I always believe in transition games, it’s always (the flip of) a coin. It can go in your favor or (not), but it’s a knockout game and maybe we need to break more of the game, maybe we won’t.” . T. We’ll see. In the end, the game will dictate what we have to do.”
Guardiola is still hoping to win the Champions League with City after last lifting the trophy as Barcelona manager in 2011. De Bruyne is hoping to get his hands on the Champions League for the first time, but the 31-year-old said he would not will have. he regrets if he can’t get over the line before his time at City is up.
“I don’t regret the things I do,” he said. “Whatever competition I enter, I try to win it. You lose a lot more than you win, but luckily I’ve been able to win a lot, so I’m very lucky that way.”
“If you’re worried about the noise, it’s going to disturb people a bit. We haven’t won it, but we’ve done very well in the Champions League.”
“Obviously I want to win it, but I know as long as we don’t I’m going to come here (to the press conference) and I’m going to get the same questions and I’m okay because people judge you for that. We’re just trying to win.” these games and be the best people and the best team that we can be.”
