KEVIN NEEDS OL’ BIG EARS TO BE A GREAT

KEVIN DE BRUYNE is one of the best players in the world. But he is missing the trophy that many of the greats have won.

That is the Champions League. Cristiano Ronaldo has five, Lionel Messi has four.

They are obviously on a different level to everybody else. But even Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk have one in the bank for City’s big rivals Liverpool.

De Bruyne will now have to wait another 12 months at least. The Kop pair may have two by then.

Some greats miss out on major trophies. Steven Gerrard never got his hands on a Premier

League title but he did get to lift the European Cup.

De Bruyne revealed on the eve of this game against Real Madrid that he is happy with what he has won in the game.

His haul of trophies includes three Premier Leagues, an FA Cup and five League Cups in England. But playing in this City side, he surely wants to get his hands on Ol’ Big Ears. It’s a must.

He went off in last season’s final against Chelsea in tears after Antonio Rudiger fractured his cheekbone when they collided. The pain was not helped when Chelsea went on to win the game and deny City and De Bruyne their first European Cup. This time he was taken off by Pep Guardiola when it was not his night on the pitch.

The Belgium international, right, turns 31 in June. The clock may be ticking. But this City side is good enough to do it one day, of course.

He had an early sighter from distance but it did not trouble Thibaut Courtois. He teed up Bernardo Silva with a beautiful pass in the 20th minute but the City man had his effort saved, too.

But by his lofty standards, De Bruyne was not dominating the game and it was giving Real Madrid hope through the middle.

So Guardiola turned to Ilkay Gundogan with 18 minutes to go, sensing De Bruyne was tiring. It meant he could not rescue City when it went wrong, and it means his wait for a European Cup goes on. He is still one of the best in his position but he needs Champions League glory.