Brentford boss Thomas Frank has said that Kevin De Bruyne is the ‘key man’ in a Manchester City side packed with elite players.
Speaking on Sky Sports, the Danish coach was asked about how he sets up his side to stop a team like the treble-winners, including a player like the £54 million (Guardian) man.
Thomas Frank gave a breakdown on how he has instructed his Brentford players to keep Manchester City talisman Kevin De Bruyne quiet.
Thomas Frank names Kevin De Bruyne as the ‘key man’ at Manchester City
Branded as ‘clever’ by Thierry Henry, the general consensus remains that the Belgian playmaker remains City’s best player.
In fact, ever since he joined the Sky Blues in 2015, it seems like everything has gone through the 32-year-old.
Now, Thomas Frank has given an insight into the instructions he would hand out to keep Manchester City maestro Kevin De Bruyne at bay.
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“No, never man-mark him but of course, have an extra eye on him because he’s the key man. Of course, City have four or five top players that you try to close down but we have an extra eye on him”, he said.
Kevin De Bruyne is the ultimate difference-maker that Pep Guardiola possesses
While Erling Haaland could be considered as a close second, Thomas Frank is right to single the enigmatic midfielder as the protagonist at Manchester City.
At the end of the day, De Bruyne is his side’s and perhaps his generation’s most productive creator.
In addition, even in a game in which the five-time Premier League winner does not walk away with an assist or two, his overall impact on the game is seismic more often than not.
Kevin De Bruyne’s enviable passing range, pinpoint crossing, unstoppable ball-carrying ability, one-of-a-kind final ball and thunderous ball-striking chops are all factors that make him such a diverse threat to restrict.