REACTION

Be sweet-talked by me... he’s the perfect self-starter

Steve Bates

PEP GUARDIOLA has revealed he doesn’t have to seduce Kevin De Bruyne to become a world beater – because the Belgian star is so self-driven.

Midfielder De Bruyne has been handed the captaincy and put on penalty duty by Guardiola.

But the Spaniard insists none of that added responsibility will change the classy 27-year-old. “Honestly, with these types of players, the challenge comes from inside themselves,” said the City boss. “If you have to push them to be something special they are not big, big, big.

“I don’t believe too much in trying to seduce them to become better players. They all know what it takes to improve – so it has to come from them.

“The big things in sport always come from inside the players, not the trainers.

“The best players never complain to the manager or the club, because they know it is up to them to become better day by day.

“The others, they are the ones who make reasons why they cannot do it. That’s why they change clubs all the time and never end up with a top club. But the big players always look at themselves.”

De Bruyne was hampered by injury last season, scoring six goals in his 32 City games, compared to nine in 34 matches so far this campaign.

And Guardiola has marvelled at his influence on City this season – and his magical display against Real Madrid.

“It’s not necessary for me to say absolutely anything about Kevin any more. I’d just say: ‘Look at how he plays’.

“The performance level, the continuity, the influence in our final third and on our finishing, the desire, his calmness and positivity.

Exceptional

“I asked him after the game in Madrid: ‘Kevin, what did you feel before you took that penalty?’ And he just said, ‘I’m going to score’.

“He doesn’t feel much pressure, he likes to play in the big events. He’s an exceptional player. I say to him: ‘Kevin, don’t forget, do the simple things properly’ – because sometimes he is alone and might lose the ball.

“He is able to see something special and have the spaces no one else can see, and even with that he is improving.

“He’s not 34. He still has a lot of years to play and always you have the feeling when he is on the pitch that he is never disconnected, even if he’s not influencing the game at that moment. It’s important to be like that.

“For the equaliser in Madrid I didn’t speak to him, but I think he crossed to Gabriel Jesus to score without knowing Gabriel was there, but thinking, ‘Gabriel, you have to be there’.

“That’s the best way to express the talent Kevin has – he has the ball and knows a team-mate has to be there because the space will be there for him to exploit.

“And when he finds himself in those positions the strikers just know the ball is coming.”

City might not win the Premier League this season, with Liverpool steaming towards glory, but De Bruyne believes victory over Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup Final at Wembley today can kick-start a strong finish and more silverware.

“Wembley is obviously a special stadium and we are lucky to have so many good memories of playing there,” he said. “And that’s all valuable to us.

“Going there means that we are doing things right and so now we have to finish the job.

“There is still a long way to go this season and we are keen to win as many trophies as possible.

“My numbers are good, but

I won’t remember the season for the number of goals I scored or the chances I made.

“You remember a season for the games and trophies you won, and that’s what we are hoping to do.”