WINNING THIS EASILY IS SERIOUSLY HARD WORK
De Bruyne on the secret behind City’s sensational start to season
KEVIN DE BRUYNE admits Manchester City are making winning “look easy”. But the Belgium star says City’s intense play is actually a lot of “hard work” – and insists they can keep up the ruthless running game all season. Pep Guardiola’s men have won 10 in a row and are unbeaten this season. Their best win yet came against Serie A leaders Napoli who were demolished in a brilliant opening 25 minutes. De Bruyne, whose own form is putting him alongside the best in the world, says he and City are improving all the time. He confirmed, too, that he is set for talks on a bumper new contract. He said: “It maybe looks easy. But even when you win with a lot of goals there’s a lot of work that we put in. At the end of the game you are also tired, no matter what. “I’m happy with my form, but I’m going the way the team is going. “It’s easier when the team is playing the way they do. Everywhere there are runners and it helps us. “Everybody knows the job they need to do. Offensively and defensively we are in check. Everybody is playing up to a high standard. And everyone who comes in does the same job.” De Bruyne says he isn’t fazed by the praise his goalcreating passes have attracted. He added: “I don’t care. I have to do the things I do. I just like to enjoy my football, that’s a big part of me. I put a lot of passion in to what I do and I like to win. “Obviously, the team knows better and better the way I play. I think if you check my assists I did before in Germany and Belgium, a lot of times it’s the same. “It’s great to get a player in a scoring position if I can.” Guardiola (below) spent the Champions League clash demanding more from his players, as they saw out a 2-1 win over a very strong Napoli. De Bruyne explained: “It keeps everybody in check. “When it was 2-0 we knew it wasn’t over. If you want to win a lot of games, go for titles, the standard has to be set really high constantly. We’re trying to do that.” De Bruyne has played down his half-time flare-up with team-mate David Silva, who blocked him from complaining to the fourth official. He said: “We had a little discussion. There’s nothing wrong. After one minute, it’s over. “At home I get some arguments with my wife, it’s normal, necessary. But now everything is OK.” On a new contract he added: “Talks are coming. I am patient anyway, I don’t stress.”