DE BRUYNE AGONY
City maestro faces three months out
Manchester city playmaker Kevin De Bruyne could be out for three months after suffering a serious knee injury in training yesterday.
there are fears that De Bruyne has torn a lateral ligament in his right knee, which will be a huge blow to manager Pep Guardiola.
the 27-year- old Belgium midfielder, who will have further tests to ascertain the extent of the damage, was pictured last night with a full-length brace on his right leg and using crutches.
Despite being injured earlier in the day, he attended the premiere of the amazon Prime TV documentary Manchester City: All Or Nothing at the Printworks in Manchester city centre.
De Bruyne could miss a dozen Premier League games — including clashes with city’s main title rivals Liverpool, tottenham and Manchester United — and as many as four champions League group games.
Kyle Walker, the city and england defender, said: ‘Kevin is a great player and it’s just unfortunate that it’s happened to him in training, but there’s
more than enough depth in the squad. ‘We don’t just rely on one player. It’s a team game and whoever steps in will do well. Obviously, it’s a big loss but we’ve got more than enough cover.’ De Bruyne suffered a knee injury in 2016 after twisting awkwardly when challenging Everton’s Ramiro Funes Mori. On that occasion he was out for nine weeks. Guardiola failed to sign a midfielder this summer and last week City’s Brazilian ace Douglas Luiz was denied a work permit. Much has been made of the fact that the champions possess world-class cover in every position. Bernardo Silva, David Silva, Phil Foden, Riyad Mahrez and Ilkay Gundogan can all operate further forward in their midfield three. Yet statistics prove City do not fare as well without De Bruyne, last season’s player of the year. The champions’ win ratio is 64.8 per cent with him in the team but 60 per cent without. There is also a drop-off in goals per game (2.3 with, 1.9 without) and possession (66 per cent with, 61.4 without). De Bruyne took the inaugural Premier League Playmaker of the Year Award last term. ‘He played an incredible season,’ said Germany international Gundogan. ‘He had so much impact on our game. ‘He was maybe the main man for us. He is very important. We all hope that it is not too serious so he can get back as soon as possible.’ De Bruyne — part of City’s five-man senior player committee — had explained to the BBC earlier in the day how he has matured under Guardiola. ‘I have grown into it, being a leader,’ he said. ‘When I came I was not the player I am now, I did not have the same view. ‘I came from Germany, I didn’t succeed before in England (with Chelsea). ‘When you do well, you train hard, you work hard, you get more leadership on the field. ‘I try to do everything in my power to win the game. I am more relaxed than Vinny (Kompany) but I try to do everything to win.’