Rodgers: De Bruyne is just unbelievable!
HE wasn’t the first and he won’t be the last, but it is always striking to see an opposition coach as lost for words as Brendan Rodgers when trying to describe Kevin de Bruyne.
Leicester will be in second place as they tuck into their Christmas dinners and a hugely impressive team did their best to extend their lead over City in third as they took the lead at the Etihad on Saturday.
However, the Blues were buoyed first by Riyad Mahrez and then by De Bruyne, who produced a performance similar to Tottenham here a few years ago or Arsenal just last weekend where he simply looks far too good for anyone else on the pitch.
For Rodgers, who has never come up against De Bruyne before despite playing City three times while in charge of Celtic and Leicester, it was a joy to watch.
The manager was asked about the midfielder in relation to Steven Gerrard - recognised as one of the best players in Premier League history - after the match but, much like the game, the response was all about the City star.
“Kevin is unbelievable,” he started. “For me he is such a world-class player and with world class, they will find the space. You can block up spaces and be tight and organised but the world-class players will find the space.
“His level and mentality...that is the first time I have come up against him in an actual game, the games I have come up against City before he hasn’t played, so to see it live, that level and quality was absolutely...it is great, I love talent and he is a great talent.”
Rodgers is enhancing his reputation at Leicester and very nearly ended City’s title hopes last season when his Leicester team were only undone by a Vincent Kompany thunderbolt in the penultimate game of the season.
The coach had a plan to try and keep De Bruyne quiet on Saturday, but explained why it failed.
“You have a plan but it is very very difficult, he executes it in every single game he plays, it doesn’t matter what team he is playing against, he plays it.
“That is what I am saying about world class.
“David Silva is the same. In my experiences against that level of talent, you try to block up space and anticipate where they go but their in-built brain for football finds the space and they have the quality to hurt you. He is playing at such a high level.
“Of course you can always be better at trying to deny him the space but, eventually, I think those types of players find it.”