Former Manchester City goalkeeper Shay Given believes Kevin de Bruyne’s fallings out with Pep Guardiola have helped him this season.
As is usually the case, De Bruyne has enjoyed a superb season for City.
The 31-year-old midfielder has scored 10 goals and provided 28 assists in all competitions this season, and has formed a destructive attacking partnership with Erling Haaland.
De Bruyne’s ability to grab games by the throat and create chances from nothing has helped City secure a third Premier League title in a row.
He and his teammates are tantalizingly close to completing a league, Champions League and FA Cup treble, but perhaps surprisingly, De Bruyne hasn’t always cut the happiest of figures this campaign.
A video of De Bruyne telling manager Pep Guardiola to “shut up” during City’s win against Real Madrid last week went viral, and was just the latest example of the star venting his frustration during games.
Guardiola revealed last week that the midfielder often yells at him during training, suggesting tension is normal in their working relationship.
What did Given say?
Speaking on the Premier League’s Kelly & Wrighty show on Monday, former Blues keeper Given suggested that De Bruyne plays best when he’s a little worked up.
“He’s fallen out with Pep a couple of times over the course of the season,” Given said.
“I think Kevin, to be fair, plays on the edge a bit as well. I was at the Madrid game when he had a spat back, it was right in front of where I was sitting, and they both had a bit of a row together.
“I think Kevin is that sort of individual, sometimes he needs a rocket to get the best out of him.
“It’s about man management, you have to get the best out of these players. Some people need an arm around the shoulder, maybe De Bruyne to get the best out of him needs a rocket. But Kevin is at boiling point sometimes and has a go back.”
If semi-regular arguments are what it takes to keep De Bruyne at the top of his game, then Guardiola won’t mind chat-back from his star man.
