EXASPERATED DE BRUYNE IS CARRYING CITY
KEVIN DE BRUYNE is possibly the most transparent footballer in this country — which means that, at times such as these, we know exactly what he thinks without the need to talk to him. Manchester City are stuttering, winning only one of their last five games in all competitions and now a daunting 11 points adrift of Liverpool in the one that really matters. De Bruyne is incapable of masking frustration and that was evident at Newcastle. Two examples stood out, telling a story of a midfielder who is carrying this team and who appears increasingly exasperated at City failing to hit their manager’s exacting standards. Benjamin Mendy was bawled out in French for complaining at an inconsequential throw-in, refusing to give the ball back to Newcastle. Riyad Mahrez was screamed at to stay wide as he subconsciously floated infield. Both outbursts, while the scores were level, were delivered with exasperation in a way only De Bruyne can. He is desperate to make City click again and is feeling the burden of creative responsibility as those around him falter, forcing the issue more than he would like. A needlessly quick free-kick, a 50-50 ball in an attempt to feed Gabriel Jesus, was evidence. It is hard not to feel a pang of sympathy for De Bruyne. He knows the last few weeks have not been right and took matters into his own hands with his wonder strike near the end which was negated by Jonjo Shelvey’s even later equaliser. A defiant Pep Guardiola was out later, insistent that City are playing well enough. The statistics bear him out — 77 per cent possession, 24 shots on goal at
St James’ Park — yet there is no sign of that cloak of dominance they have worn so well in recent seasons. ‘Look at how many chances we created and how many we conceded,’ said Guardiola, who never publicly admonishes his players. ‘We were much better than Newcastle. We never give up. That is my feeling. Of course the result is not good for us. But I have to analyse the performance and that was good.’ Guardiola has an unlikely ally in Steve Bruce, who cannot fathom the title race being over as early as November.
‘Oh I still think they’re a quality act,’ said Bruce. ‘Absolutely. As good as you’re going to get.’ Bruce deserves credit for the way in which his team made use of the ball when they wrestled it back, aggressively passing through City’s rather static midfield. The champions are attempting to find different methods of breaking sides down and know some have found mechanisms to deal with their skills. Guardiola believes defences are becoming braver in possession and can stretch his forward line, with Kyle Walker admitting: ‘The opposition are probably working us out a bit. Or the opposition are getting better.’ Walker made an impassioned plea to his team-mates inside the City dressing room, calling for them to stick together. ‘I look at you guys, you are my family,’ he told them. ‘I feel we have got to pull together as a squad and get the belief going again and make sure we do go on a run to put some pressure on the teams above us. ‘It is never going to be pleasant when you drop points but Pep believes in us dearly as a team. From my two seasons here, I have never seen a manager show so much belief and confidence in a team of players like he does. We can be unstoppable. We just need the rub of the green like we got a few times in the past. ‘We are still the same squad. We have the ability to go and catch anyone on our day. We have to take it game by game and keep chalking them off.’