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Man City’s De Bruyne upbeat as he bids to put injuries behind him
MANCHESTER, United Kingdom, Dec 21, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Kevin De Bruyne’s
timely return to action for Manchester City is a major boost for Pep
Guardiola as his team brace for a punishing programme over the festive
period.
The Belgium international, who has been limited to just 96 minutes of
league football so far this season, started the midweek League Cup quarter-
final against Leicester, which City won on penalties.
He completed 70 minutes in only his second outing since injuring his knee
for a second time this season in a League Cup tie with Fulham on November 1
and scored City’s goal in the 1-1 draw.
“I’ve been out so long, so to play 70 minutes is a really good sign for me
personally,” he told the club’s official website. “I feel a little bit stiff
but I’m happy to contribute again.”
City’s home match in the Premier League against Crystal Palace on Saturday
is the first game in a run of six matches in 16 days in three competitions so
Guardiola will be desperate to have all his major stars at his disposal.
In more good news for the City boss, Sergio Aguero also returned to action
in midweek after being out since late November with a groin problem.
But it is the pending return to full fitness of De Bruyne that will most
excite City supporters, even if a record of 14 wins and two draws from their
opening 17 league games hardly suggests the team has struggled in his
absence.
De Bruyne put in a huge effort last season for his club, featuring in 52
league and cup games for City and was named their player of the season. –
Heavy schedule –
He also faced a punishing international schedule, which culminated in
Belgium finishing third at the World Cup — the sheer number of games for
club and country sparked concerns from Guardiola that De Bruyne had not had
enough rest during the summer.
When he picked up a ligament injury in his right knee in training just one
game into the new season such fears seemed well-founded — he then hurt his
left knee against Fulham soon after returning to action.
The player, however, believes he was the victim of bad luck.
“I played the most of anyone last year — in the whole world,” said De
Bruyne. “And I played the World Cup without a problem.
“I think the most important thing is having a summer break — if you have
that you can feel OK but there is always a time in someone’s career where you
feel a bit less.
“But I felt all right, it was just a shame that when I came back after one
week I was out for two-and-a-half months. I was happy to come back and worked
really hard but after three games it happened again.”
The 27-year-old is upbeat despite his disrupted season and is preparing to
help second-placed City in their title defence.
“There’s nothing I can do — it was two accidents,” he said. “I’m happy
with my body because I know I have no problems with muscles. They were both
just accidents, the second time also. I felt my knee and it pops, so you just
work hard and try to be back as soon as possible.”
BSS/AFP/MRI/0850 hrs