KEVIN: I HAVE NO MEMORY
Final just a blur to injured City star
KEVIN DE BRUYNE is not haunted by the memory of losing a Champions League final as he can barely recall any of that night in Porto.
A collision with Chelsea’s Antonio Rudiger left the Manchester City playmaker with a fractured eye socket and a broken nose.
He was still in his kit when he left hospital the following morning and returned dazed to the team hotel.
“I don’t remember a lot after the incident so there aren’t a lot of memories,” he said. “I remember some chances in the first half and the goal.
“After the collision I don’t remember a lot. I don’t remember how I got to the hospital. I remember going back in the morning to the team hotel at 10am still with my City kit on. It’s sport and it happens. It’s not the best thing that ever happened but you get on with it.”
De Bruyne is also hazy about meeting Khaldoon Al Mubarak the following morning when the City chairman told him he would win the Champions League for the club one day.
“I think he spoke to the team in the evening or the morning, I’ve no idea,” said the Belgium international. “He said he was happy with what I contributed to the team and in the year. He said some positive words like we’ll be back, we’ll be fighting again to try to win the trophy.
“It was nice to hear that from the chairman because it was a big blow for everybody.”
De Bruyne, 30, understands why critics say City must lift the Champions League to be considered a great side, but is satisfied with his haul of three Premier Leagues, one FA Cup and five League Cups.
“In the last six years we’ve been one time in the last 16, the other five times the quarter-final or better so we’re always competing,” he said.
“We have not managed to win it, but we are trying. Hopefully in my period here we can get one.
“Does it define your legacy? For people outside maybe. It depends. You look at the situation and I’m happy with what we’ve done as a club for the last six years.”
De Bruyne has started six of the last seven games and feels sharper after damaging ankle ligaments at Euro 2020. He is excited about playing Bruges tonight in his first club match in his homeland since he left Genk in January 2012 to join Chelsea
aged 20.