The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
De Bruyne says City’s task difficult, not impossible
MANCHESTER CITY: Midfielder says side can overturn 3-0 deficit to Liverpool
Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne insists it is not an impossible task to overturn their 3-0 deficit to Liverpool and keep their Champions League dream alive.
A humbling quarter-final first-leg defeat at Anfield saw Pep Guardiola’s side leave themselves with a mountain to climb at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday.
Before then the players have to quickly switch their focus to becoming the quickest side in Premier League history to win the title – with six matches remaining – at home to arch rivals Manchester United tomorrow.
“We know it’s going to be difficult.
“We need to focus on Saturday and then we will try everything in our power to get a result against Liverpool,” the Belgium midfielder said.
“They are going to be the big favourites but I think we have played a lot of games where it was possible to score three goals, so why not?
“Obviously they have a big advantage. It’s not impossible, it’s difficult.
“You never know. The way this team plays, everything is possible.
“But it’s going to need something special.”
Liverpool’s players were spurred on by the raucous atmosphere at Anfield on Wednesday night, and De Bruyne is hoping his side will experience similar in front of their own fans next week.
“It would be nice, obviously,” the 26-year-old added.
“It’s difficult because the circumstances are different but we will be up for it.
“Probably they got a lot of inspiration from their fans.
“Hopefully we can have the same on Tuesday.
“It’s football. You never know what is going to happen. We have a lot of confidence in our qualities so we’ll see. “I don’t think we played bad.
“In the end offensively we could be a little bit better but that’s the way it goes, he said.
“They have a big advantage but it’s still a game and we’ll see in the end what happens.
“If they go through and they deserve it, that’s the way it goes.
“We tried to do everything in our power to win, to go through, but we’ll see.
“First is Saturday, it’s another game. Hopefully we can do well and win it.”
De Bruyne played down the seriousness of the attack by Liverpool fans on City’s bus.
“I already saw (things like this) before. It happens. I don’t think it’s something bad,” he said.
“Obviously it’s not nice if you see windows breaking, that’s not a good thing, but I think if supporters do that (line streets in support) without being violent then I think it’s OK.”
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The way this team plays, everything is possible. KEVIN DE BRUYNE