Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says Kevin de Bruyne is behind only Lionel Messi as the best player in the world after another star performance.
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Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City maintained their winning start to the Premier League season with a 4-0 victory over AFC Bournemouth.
“He is a special player, without the ball he’s the first fighter, with the ball he’s clear, he sees everything, he decides what he has to do and he makes the right decision”.
“I am lucky, we are happy”.
Guardiola’s weapons: Raheem Sterling and Kevin de Bruyne ran riot against Bournemouth. To be the best in the league, it depends if he is going to win the titles. Maybe. Maybe I’m wrong. “I need him to put pressure on John Stones, Nico Otamendi and Kolarov”.
That got City rolling in the 15th minute – and De Bruyne played a part in the other three goals, too. “But in the table beside, Kevin can sit there, there’s no doubt”. They were victorious in the Manchester Derby last weekend before dominating Monchengladbach 4-0 Wednesday in their first Champions League group match.
“Numbers are numbers. One record will be for another person to beat”, said Guardiola.
“We have many injuries like David [Silva] and Fabian Delph, but OK the team was ready again and we won”.
Not even a late red card for Nolito’s headbutt on Adam Smith could dampen this day for the Citizens.
City, however, certainly made things look straightforward as they outplayed Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium. They went down 1-0 at home to Middlesbrough on Saturday and last season, they might have lost such a game – exacerbated by the fact that they reportedly rarely practiced set pieces for example.
“Fair play to them”. City haven’t just signed one of the most talented players in the game, they have on their hands one who is easy to manage-a dream for any coach. The other teams play long balls and they want to play and our high pressing was not ideal. “We had our moments but didn’t make the most of those opportunities and overall I leave here frustrated with the team”. The addition of Jack Wilshere on season-long loan should prove to be a boost, although the England global will probably start the match on the bench. Wilshere conceded the free-kick which led to City’s opener and was substituted after 68 minutes.
For Bournemouth it was always likely to be a hard afternoon but Howe felt his side still should have done better and hopes lessons are learned.
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“It’s going to be a really tough game and we know that so we’re going to have to give it our all on Saturday”.
