Grealish praise is hard on De Bruyne

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KEVIN DE BRUYNE joined football royalty and looks close to regaining his crown as the king of Manchester City.

But it was Jack Grealish that manager Pep Guardiola, below, reserved his biggest praise for – calling this match the £100million man’s best game for City.

De Bruyne, above, joined Manchester United and England icon David Beckham on 80 Premier League assists when he set up Aymeric Laporte’s equaliser after Kyle Walker-Peters stunned the champions.

The 30-year-old also hit the post, played three key passes and had a potential winner saved in stoppage time.

All the more mystifying then that it was Grealish who Guardiola picked out post-match, heaping praise on a player who is still struggling.

The England international had almost half as many touches as De Bruyne, did not manage a single shot on goal, and was involved in a tunnel bust-up with Oriol Romeu.

But Guardiola said: “It’s the best game he has played since he has been with us, by far. It was an exceptional performance. He played really, really well.

“I’m talking about when he has the ball, what he has to do. In a team that is so tight, they defend so narrow, it is not easy. He played exceptionally.”

Maybe Guardiola is just being defensive about his big summer signing, who still has only two goals and two assists in the Premier League this season.

But he went out of his way to praise the 26-year-old’s contribution in a new role up front – and again state clearly he cannot play the same way he did at Aston Villa.

Guardiola said: “He’s the perfect player to play between the lines. He’s so aggressive, he makes incredible runs.”

Grealish is the heir apparent to De Bruyne and Guardiola clearly expects big things from him as he settles into his new role.

City missed a chance to go 14 points clear and, while they still have a nine-point cushion, they will need their big guns firing to get over the line.

Bernardo Silva has led the way at times this season but does not have a goal or an assist in his past eight league games.

Raheem Sterling missed a sitter and wasting three other glorious chances.

While De Bruyne is showing signs of life after a stop-start season hampered by Covid and an ankle injury, his delivery for the goal was only his second assist of the campaign.

City cannot take their foot off the gas – and it is time for their stars to shine.