Step up and man mark De Bruyne!

WE know Kevin De Bruyne is out of this world. His vision and passing are sensational and even by September he was everyone’s player of the year.

So why did Leicester afford him such space? De Bruyne does not need much room to work his magic but he was given the freedom of the Etihad.

I take nothing away from his three assists for Sergio Aguero. They were wonderful deliveries but Leicester made it too easy for him. It’s as if they were afraid of him. Too often teams show De Bruyne too much respect and do not engage him when he gets on the ball.

As well as those three assists, he created another three chances. With David Silva out, Claude Puel should have sought to cut off City’s supply line.

Wilfred Ndidi is an athletic midfielder and could have been tasked with man- marking City’s playmaker. Let Fernandinho and Ilkay Gundogan have the ball.

It is a tall order to stop De Bruyne but teams should at least be making him earn his assists.