“I’m a bit angry and grumpy with Kevin because he didn’t score the goal from the free-kick he played right after coming on the pitch,” City coach Pep Guardiola joked after the game. “Kevin is an incredible player. When he has the ball and speed types around him, he can pass like no one else in the world,” added Guardiola.
The 32-year-old Belgian midfielder started in the Premier League for the first time since August, when in the opening round against Burnley he recovered the thigh muscle injury from the Champions League final against Inter Milan in May (1-0 win). However, he converted a fantastic 20-minute save in Newcastle on Saturday. “Man, you’re the jewel in the crown,” Manchester United’s legendary stopper Rio Ferdinand told De Bruyne.
It’s as if an even improved version of De Bruyne has returned. During his short stay on the pitch, he managed to score a goal, assist on the winning shot, create a great chance. To do this, he distributed computer-accurate, clever passes.
His pass to Bobb behind the home side’s defensive line was the icing on the cake. The young Norwegian striker no less successfully took the ball at full speed, made a loop to the Slovakian goalkeeper Martin Dúbravka and immediately celebrated his first hit in the English league and a 3:2 triumph. “Thank you. You are the only one in the world who can do this, it’s great to play with you,” the author of the winning goal told De Bruyne on the social network.
“I missed these matches. I had fun playing football on the field, it was actually quite crazy. I think I managed the 21 minutes more with willpower, I’m not able to play the whole game at the moment,” said De Bruyne, who became the first City player since 2014 to score and assist as a substitute. In the number of assists (103) in the Premier League, he has already overtaken Wayne Rooney for third place.
“Our king is back,” reads Manchester City’s X social media account next to a photo of De Bruyne. Will the return of the 32-year-old Belgian be a defining moment in the Citizens’ quest for defence?
2024-01-15 19:08:56
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