De Bruyne’s still hoping for glory on all fronts

KEVIN DE BRUYNE admits Manchester City’s opponents may have moved a step closer to working out Pep Guardiola’s tactics this season.

But the midfielder has warned challengers at home and abroad that their new-found knowledge might not be enough to stop City increasing their trophy haul.

Two prolonged spells on the sidelines with separate knee injuries have given the Belgium international plenty of time to assess City’s battle on four fronts.

And ahead of their last-16, first leg with Schalke tonight, De Bruyne offered little hope.

“In the league we lost a few more but we are still fighting on all fronts,” he said.

“I think other teams figure out what we do a bit better. They have better squads, we just added one player.

“We try to adapt because if teams do other things we must try something else as openings come in a different way.

“We try to dominate – sometimes in games that are more difficult we try to win in another way.

“The way we play is always going to be the same with Pep but we’ve a lot of points and are still setting a high standard.

“It may not be the same as last year but maybe we’ll win more titles. If we win three titles we will have done better than last year and titles are the most important thing.”

De Bruyne, 27, has missed 24 games this season but, after being eased back in early January, he believes he is approaching the sort of rhythm he enjoyed during last season’s record-breaking campaign.

He added: “I don’t know if I feel more fresh, sometimes it’s nice to feel a flow and just keep going which was what happened last season. I’m feeling better and better.” The from GIDEON BROOKS in Gelsenkirchen

theory that City could not have had the draw fall better had it been performed behind closed doors at the Etihad will be tested tonight. But on the evidence of Schalke’s season, not too strongly.

Since qualifying in second place behind Porto, they have won just two of their 10 league games. In contrast, Guardiola’s side have won 12 of their last 13 matches in all competitions, losing one and scoring 49 goals against only six conceded.

Schalke striker Guido Bergstaller, who is set to return from injury, sounded defiant but not confident yesterday. He said: “The best team at the moment in Europe is coming but we won’t raise the white flag.”

Boss Domenico Tedesco struck a more upbeat tone, adding: “There is nothing like a knockout match in the Champions League against a team that is one of the best in the world.

“City are a very strong team so we’ll need a red letter day but we’ve worked a lot to be able to play such a game and have fun.” City will aim to put the tie to bed with a characteristic early blitz to get a foot in the quarter-finals for the second year running. But De Bruyne maintained that the focus did not extend that far and there is certainly no talk of the quadruple.

“I think the goal is not to win the four comps, the goal is to win every game and the further you progress, you want to win the next game,” he said.

“On Sunday we can win the Carabao Cup but you cannot say at the beginning we are going to win four.

“We are happy with where we are but we want to progress to the quarter-finals here and be closer to winning it – but to win all four is nearly impossible.”