FODEN BOOST FOR BLUES
KEVIN de Bruyne came close to perfection during City’s 8-0 thrashing of Watford on Saturday, but he can still anger his manager at times.
The Belgian had a hand in five of the Blues’ eight goals, including scoring the last, a rasping rightfooted drive that gave keeper Ben Foster no chance. It was another majestic performance from the 28-year-old, who has started the season in fine form after suffering an injury-hit campaign last term.
While De Bruyne claimed two assists against Watford, he also took the corner from which Bernardo Silva scored after Nicolas Otamendi’s flick-on and was behind the quick free-kick that saw Sergio Aguero tee-up Otamendi.
Guardiola said the Belgian’s vision even took his team-mates by surprise at times, but admitted he can get angry at him - but only because of his consistent brilliance.
“Kevin sometimes is a special player, sometimes he sees something the other guys cannot see on the pitch, not even off [it],” the City boss said.
“Sometimes I’m a little bit [angry] when the simple ball you lose it, how with your quality you can lose it? But he is incredibly talented player, and sometimes you miss it from here, loses it from here but sometimes his vision up front and the quality he has [is incredible].”
De Bruyne looks in the mood to make up for lost time so far this season after injuries wrecked most of 2018/19. He occasionally played like a man possessed when he did get back on the pitch last season and Guardiola said his midfielder could get angry on the pitch at times.
“Only with Kevin sometimes it depends on his mood, sometimes he is a little bit like this [angry] when he is a little bit not happy in that way,” he said.
“He is an incredible and fantastic guy, we knew we miss him a lot. We did an incredible season winning four titles but we miss him last season a lot because he is a special player.”
City spent £55m on signing De Bruyne from Wolfsburg in the summer of 2015, a deal that was mocked in some places at the time, particularly in a now infamous clip where Paul Merson and Phil Thompson criticised the high fee.
But that fee now looks like small change, with De Bruyne perhaps the Premier League’s standout player, having been involved in 117 goals in his 182 appearances for the club.
“I am happy that he is here, happy for the club when nobody knew him or nobody talked about him and the club were there and said he can help us,” said Guardiola.
“I am happy for him because the first season he was incredible, without him it would not be possible, but he struggled a little bit for the [last] season and I am happy we can have this continuity to take minutes.”