The Irish Mail on Sunday

Fantastic goal but De Bruyne can play so much better, says Pep

- By Jack Gaughan

PEP GUARDIOLA insisted that Kevin De Bruyne is nowhere near his best, despite a stunning goal for Manchester City.

De Bruyne’s second Premier League goal of the season, a curling effort, made sure City bounced back from last week’s defeat against Liverpool

by beating Brighton. The Belgian, who already has nine assists this season, finished third in the Ballon d’Or behind Karim Benzema and Sadio Mane in midweek. Yet his manager believes there is more to come from City’s talisman, who played yesterday with a black eye after being struck by a ball in training.

‘Kevin can be better,’ Guardiola said. ‘He is not playing at his top level. A fantastic goal but he is not playing at his best. He knows this. I don’t have to tell him. His dynamic is not perfect. I spoke with him.’

He added: ‘The goal is outstandin­g and thanks to him we didn’t suffer in the final minutes.

‘Compliment­s to my players because I know how difficult it was. I said how difficult it could be.’

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Ireland