Pass master De Bruyne is a class apart
THE Premier League has been blessed with players capable of defence-splitting passes.
Cesc Fabregas has that long, quarter-back pass he has used to superb effect to set up Diego Costa, Eden Hazard and now Alavaro Morata.
Frank Lampard had a great understanding with Didier Drogba, setting up 24 of his 104 Premier League goals — a record number of assists for a pair of players.
Dennis Bergkamp had a sublime weight of pass and was so unselfish. It’s little wonder Thierry Henry says he was the best he played with.
But in Kevin De Bruyne we have a midfielder whose passing is on another level. His range is the best I have seen. The slide-rule pass to play in a team-mate, the cute reverse passes, the sweeping cross-field balls — there is nothing the Manchester City midfielder cannot do.
His numbers speak for themselves: joint-most assists in the Premier League this season (eight), most chances created (56), most passes in the opposition half (1,035). When I spoke to De Bruyne last month, he said assists were more special to him than goals... but that has not stopped him scoring six!
The difference with De Bruyne is his bravery. He plays without fear in the final third. He does not need to worry about whether his pass will be completed because he has such belief in his team-mates. Look at the brilliant, first-time pass he played to Leroy Sane against Tottenham. De Bruyne barely looks up — he just knows Sane will get on the end of it.
In Pep Guardiola, De Bruyne has a manager who is not afraid to let his players take risks. The emphasis is on getting him and David Silva into positions to create chances.
De Bruyne is also indebted to Fernandinho, who shields the defence to give City’s creative geniuses the platform on which to shine.
My favourite weapon in De Bruyne’s arsenal is his slide-rule pass. It was a quality I admired when I played against Eyal Berkovic, and it’s why he makes my list of the Premier League’s best defencesplitting passers (above).
How are England going to stop De Bruyne at the World Cup? Eric Dier and Harry Winks could not contain him in Tottenham’s 4-1 defeat at the Etihad. The problem with Belgium is who to mark. If you man-mark him, Eden Hazard might get space.
The confidence is oozing from De Bruyne. England will be fearful of facing him in Russia in the summer.