De Bruyne tips wink on City secret
KEVIN DE BRUYNE has revealed Manchester City’s big secret – they have players who can score with their eyes closed.
Maybe blindfolding Pep Guardiola’s City slickers might give the rest a chance.
Guardiola’s side score with alarming regularity and although it was just the three this time, it was enough. They are unbeaten in 15 games this season and have served up a feast of goals – 35 in 10 Premier League outings.
But De Bruyne says those backing them to go through the campaign undefeated might just lose their money.
“I think we go out knowing we will create chances. As long as we do that we’ll always score goals because we have guys who can score with their eyes closed – so we’ll have a chance of winning,” said De Bruyne.
“To go unbeaten? Well, it’s very hard. I don’t think it will be possible. Every game is hard and you need to be mentally there. And with the Champions League and all the cups, there will be a game that we maybe lose.”
City never looked in danger of that happening at the Hawthorns, although they had their nose bloodied a couple of times along the way as the battling Baggies scrapped it out.
In the process they broke the record of completed passes made in a game, an amazing 844.
Tony Pulis’s side actually missed a couple of decent chances as well – but so did City – and a 6-3 scoreline would not have looked out of place.
Albion defender Kieran Gibbs believes City might just be the best team he has seen. “Collectively they are strong everywhere,” said Gibbs. “It’s tough to play against. The way they move the ball, the way the players move position. It’s so hard to keep track.”
West Brom deserve credit for their performance. When Leroy Sane put City ahead after 10 minutes, you feared for them.
But within minutes Albion were level through Jay Rodriguez, only to fall behind again instantly when Fernandinho struck.
Once City added a third through Raheem Sterling there was no way back, but Albion kept fighting and got another in stoppage time through Matt Phillips.
That is nine without a win for Pulis and they now face a testing run of fixtures that could make life twitchy, starting at Huddersfield next week.
Gibbs admits it’s time to get cracking and not get
dragged down near the bottom. He said: “Next week is really important, just before the international break, so we need to make sure we’re all fully focused.
“Huddersfield is not an easy place to go so we have to be ready for that then regroup over the international break.”