Kevin’s bit of trouble and strife
KEVIN De Bruyne has lifted the lid on his row with Manchester City captain David Silva and said: “I lost it for a minute – it was like a row with the wife.”
The in-form midfielder argued with Silva as they left the pitch at half-time in Tuesday’s Champions League win over Napoli, despite Pep Guardiola’s side leading 2-0 after a sparkling 45 minutes.
But a wound-up De Bruyne, who had just been booked for dissent, was angry at decisions given by Spanish referee Antonio Lahoz and his assistants and wanted to confront the fourth official as he went off.
Silva ordered him not to, fearing his team-mate would end up receiving a red card, prompting De Bruyne to launch into an angry, arm-waving rant.
But after City’s 2-1 victory, he played it down as a “domestic”.
“We just had a little discussion at the time,” said De Bruyne.
“I was just a bit annoyed. And for a minute I lost myself. You have a collision of words.
“At home I have those arguments sometimes with my wife too. Sometimes it’s needed. Not everything is always positive. But this was something small. It happens but a minute later, it’s forgotten.
“I wanted to ask the fourth official something but I wasn’t allowed to. I GUARDIOLA: On a roll don’t mind. At the highest level a discussion can be good sometimes. To get everyone on their toes again. It’s nothing to make a big deal out of. Everything is OK.”
Despite the spat, De Bruyne was delighted City stretched their winning run to 10 games but admitted Napoli had reminded them that Guardiola’s cavaliers will not have it all their own way in every game.
“It wasn’t an easy game,” said De Bruyne. “This is the Champions League, they are the leaders in Serie A. I’d seen some games of theirs, because my friend Dries Mertens plays for them, so I knew it would be tough.
“I’m happy with the way we played. Our first half was excellent, the second less. They were playing really good football. They play a bit like us. In the end, it’s a great result.”
De Bruyne, who is in talks over a new deal, claimed his seventh assist of the season when he set up Gabriel Jesus for City’s second with another slide-rule pass. “I’m happy with my form but it’s easier when the team are playing the way they do,” he said.
He hailed keeper Ederson as City’s hero for saving Mertens’ first-half penalty and helping City’s build-up with his distribution. “He’s doing a great job,” said De Bruyne.