Manchester City have one foot in the quarter-finals of the Champions League after a 3-1 win over FC Copenhagen in the last 16 first leg – and Stephen Warnock was full of praise for Kevin De Bruyne after the game last night.
City produced a fine performance at Parken, beating their opponents 3-1.
City were in complete control throughout, with Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden the goalscorers. Bernardo’s goal was especially good, with Ally McCoist branding it ‘magic’.
Copenhagen managed to get themselves on level terms midway through the first-half after a poor pass out from Ederson intended for Nathan Ake.
But City didn’t panic, and will now take a two-goal lead back to the Etihad.
It was another top performance from Kevin De Bruyne – and Warnock was left blown away by the Belgian…
Stephen Warnock hails Kevin De Bruyne and his football intelligence after Copenhagen win
Former Premier League full-back Warnock was commentating on last night’s game for BBC Radio 5 Live.
De Bruyne managed to play 90 minutes for the second time since coming back from his hamstring injury – and it was perhaps his best showing yet.
De Bruyne was so dangerous throughout and put several great balls into the box. Ironically, his first assist of the night was extremely scrappy as he jumped into a tackle and the ball popped through to Bernardo to score.
But he was just fantastic, and Warnock hailed the superstar’s amazing intelligence after the game. He said (via BBC Sport): “He has just been missed by the football world in general. I love watching him. The big thing is is that he makes it look effortless because of his awareness of what’s around him.
“If there are any kids watching him then just watch his work-rate, watch how hard he works off the ball to win it back, to get organised, but then the work-rate to find positions on the pitch to get on the ball and to hurt teams. His football intelligence is phenomenal. The quality of what is round him, the vision to see passes, but then the execution too – it is just breathtaking at times.
“The performance from De Bruyne and Phil Foden, those two were unplayable at times. The wavelength that those two players are on, knowing where each other wants to be, the rotation between them, it is a defenders nightmare.”
De Bruyne one of the greatest the game has seen
De Bruyne is not only one of the greatest midfielders ever to kick a ball, but he’s also one of the greatest players regardless of position.
Because the £55 million star is so much more than just a midfield player.
De Bruyne plays passes no one else can, is a goalscorer and also works his socks off for the team and it is extremely rare to have a player with three traits like this.
As Warnock says, his football intelligence is absolutely supreme, and everyone else in that City team knows he can put the ball wherever he and they want.
We are watching a truly special talent, and a great of the game.
