PEP’S 7th HEAVEN WITH KEVIN
Fit-again De Bruyne has perfect timing
IT’S BEEN a pretty good start to the year for Manchester City.
Three days after resurrecting their title bid with victory over Liverpool, they rattled in seven unanswered goals against Rotherham.
Yet in a week overflowing with positives at the Etihad it was the return of a fully-fit Kevin De Bruyne in time for the sharp end of the season which brought the biggest smile to manager Pep Guardiola’s face.
The midfielder, an unused sub as City delivered a statement of intent on Thursday night against Liverpool, starred for 66 minutes as they put Paul Warne’s Championship outfit to the sword and themselves into the fourth-round draw.
Goals from Raheem Sterling, Phil Foden, Gabriel Jesus, Riyad Mahrez, Nicolas Otamendi and Leroy Sane plus an own goal from Semi Ajayi completed a rout.
Crucially, though, when he was substituted, Guardiola will have breathed a sigh of relief when De Bruyne trotted to the sidelines without so much as a hair out of place.
“We spoke with Kevin about playing 65 or 70 minutes at full intensity,” said Guardiola.
“But he played an incredible game, created a lot of chances and he just has the vision to see what other people cannot see.
“Last season he played an incredible number of minutes and this season it is just 400.” The Belgian has made just five starts this season in a campaign in which he has struggled with two separate knee injuries.
But with City safely through as well into the last 16 of the Champions League, Carabao Cup semis and back into Premier League contention, his return could not be better timed.
Incredible
“I said many times how important Kevin is for us,” added Guardiola.
“We try to be a team and of course we have done incredible in terms of results, but for the second leg of the Premier League he is going to be fresh in the mind and the legs.
“And that will give us extra, the creativity in the final third, in the fight.”
Guardiola made eight changes yet still named a side which looked like he meant business.
In contrast, Warne’s side have other pressing priorities, sitting as they do just one place above the relegation zone, with only six players fit enough for the bench.
City could have been two up early on but Sterling and Jesus spurned chances. As it was, the floodgates held for just 12 minutes, Sterling exchanging a one-two with De Bruyne and burying a powerful shot inside Marek Rodak’s far post.
Rotherham stood firm until near half-time but two quick goals from Foden, his first at the Etihad, and Ajayi turning in Kyle Walker’s cross, saw the champions go in three up.
They returned after the break to turn the screw with another four. It was Guardiola’s biggest win at the club and City’s biggest here since they thrashed Sheffield Wednesday 7-0 under Manuel Pellegrini in the League Cup in November 2014.
Asked for his thoughts on the match, Warne blew out his cheeks and said: “I was pleased the final whistle went!
“We came across a very good Man City side and although we had prepped them as much as we could, nothing really prepares you for how quickly they play the game. Their slowest player is quicker than my quickest player.
“I spoke to Pep before the game and asked him to be gentle but I think the respect he showed us with the team he put out said a lot.”