OUR PLAN ALWAYS RUNS LIKE CLOCKWORK
De Bruyne: Why do we score so many goals at the end of games? Because we wear our opponents into the ground with relentless possession
KEVIN DE BRUYNE has revealed the secret of Manchester City’s late winners – they knacker their opponents.
Sergio Aguero bagged a stoppage-time clincher in Pep Time to break Bristol City’s hearts in the League Cup semi-final and the Blues have netted 13 times in the final five minutes of games this term.
They have scored six late winners after the 83rd minute, with De Bruyne (left) claiming they tire out teams with relentless possession.
“People get tired,” he said. “They put a lot of effort into defending, like a lot of teams.
“If they press or stand back, it is still difficult for them. We try to play the ball around and, you see in the last 20 minutes of games, there are almost 11 players in the box. That’s how it goes. They just have to run and, when they get the ball, they just have to play it forward and we get it straight back.
“Bristol City are a good side. They don’t want to concede a goal from an aerial duel like Sergio is winning, against guys almost two metres, but that’s the way football goes.
“We had enough chances to score more goals. In the second half, we played really well to put pressure on.” City stretched their unbeaten domestic run to 33 games with their 2-1 victory to leave them dreaming of a final appearance at Wembley, and they face the ultimate test at Anfield on Sunday.
The Blues have not won at Liverpool since May 2003 and have lost on their last four visits. But De Bruyne insists they are confident of winning.
“We don’t care about that (the defeats),” he said. “It’s just the way football goes.