Manchester City have shown on the pitch how strong their squad is over recent years.
Having seen multiple players move in and out of the Etihad Stadium, the Blues have still managed to assert their dominance in the Premier League by winning six titles over the past seven years.
Now that Pep Guardiola’s side have the chance to win a fifth consecutive league trophy, a pundit has questioned whether one of the Manchester club’s key players is still at the level he’s set for himself over precious seasons.
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Craig Burley suggests Kevin De Bruyne is starting to slow down
In a recent video shared on ESPN FC YouTube channel, Craig Burley had this to say about Kevin De Bruyne while assessing how City could fare in this latest Premier League campaign.
He said: “Kevin De Bruyne did not have a great season, particularly in the second half when he came back from injury after being out for six months.
“I personally thought he looked heavy-legged still at the Euros. Is time catching up on him? You could argue he has been their best player for quite some time, certainly the most important player.”
De Bruyne can still have a big impact in games for Man City
Burley isn’t the only pundit to question De Bruyne’s fitness heading into the new season, as Robbie Mustoe shared his potential concern about the midfielder.
After recovering from his serious hamstring injury last season, the midfielder went on to score four goals and deliver 10 assists for City in 17 Premier League appearances.
In the Euros, in addition to bagging one of the two goals Belgium scored in the tournament, De Bruyne made more shot-creating actions (28) than any other player in the national squad.
This shows that while Burley may have some concerns about the 33-year-old athleticism, he has shown that he can still have a significant impact on the pitch when it comes to creating goalscoring opportunities.
