PEPPED UP FOR GLORY!
Belgium ace has taken his game to next level
KEVIN DE BRUYNE has praised Pep Guardiola for paving the way for his success with Belgium at the World Cup.
De Bruyne admits it took him time to adapt to Guardiola when he first arrived at the Etihad, but he has just enjoyed the best season of his career as Manchester City swept to the Premier League title.
The attacking midfielder now hopes to convert that form into more glory with his national team, who take on France today for a place in the World Cup Final.
He said: “Pep helped me to perform better as an individual. It’s a totally different style and you need time to get it, but once you do, it makes football easier.
“Our (City’s) style is different to the national team, but we are an attacking team and we like to play football on the ground. We have power but some things are like the way we play at Manchester City.
“I said before the tournament that we were coming here to win it. It was not with arrogance that I said that back then.
“I think Belgium has a good team and plenty of other teams came here wanting to win the competition.
from PAUL BROWN You have to show ambition, otherwise you can’t win.”
De Bruyne believes Paris StGermain striker Kylian Mbappe is the French danger man.
Mbappe, 19, became the first teenager to score twice in a World Cup match since Pele in 1958 when he helped France destroy Lionel Messi’s Argentina in the last 16.
De Bruyne added: “Mbappe is a star for the next 15 years. He’s had a fantastic year and I think he can even improve, if that is possible.
“I think he could be dangerous for us but we are going to try and stop him playing.”
Along with Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku, De Bruyne is part of Belgium’s ‘Golden Generation’ of superstars.
But he believes it is trail-blazers like Vincent Kompany and Marouane Fellaini who did the most to lay the foundations for success.
“There has always been a lot of talent in Belgium, but a few years ago there was nobody playing outside,” he said. “Then Vincent and Marouane went and did well and other countries started recruiting.
“In the end, it’s your desire and hard work that helps you make it.”