Pep Guardiola has acknowledged that Kevin de Bruyne is playing some of the best football of his career, but insisted that the Belgian cannot always be expected to play so well.
De Bruyne scored two goals and assisted another in Manchester City’s 4-1 win against Arsenal on Wednesday, putting City’s Premier League title destiny firmly in their own hands.
It was just the latest in a string of fine performances for De Bruyne, who is enjoying a super end to the season.
The Belgian midfielder has scored six goals and provided eight assists in his last 16 appearances in all competitions, and if it wasn’t for Erling Haaland he would be favourite for the Premier League Player of the Season award.
However, De Bruyne’s form stands in stark contrast to his performances during the World Cup and in the weeks following his return to Manchester.
During the tournament the 31-year-old cut a tired and frustrated figure, and put in several poor performances for City during January and February.
What did Guardiola say?
Ahead of City’s Premier League trip to Fulham on Sunday, Guardiola was asked about De Bruyne’s dramatic surge in form.
While the City boss accepted that De Bruyne has been superb in recent weeks, he insisted that De Bruyne is always an important player.
“He’s the same player from a month ago, the same personality and an exceptional player, if he plays or doesn’t,” Guardiola said of his vice-captain.
“You cannot demand every single player of seven, eight, nine, 10 years, with a game every three days, to be all the time on the up.
“Sometimes sitting and not playing is good, it is not to punish. Sometimes you have to see it and say, ‘Ok, let him refresh his mind’. His standards are so high.”
After the Arsenal match, Guardiola explained that he substituted De Bruyne due to ‘niggles’.
However, on Friday the manager confirmed he had a fully fit squad apart from defender Nathan Ake.
After playing Fulham on Sunday, City will host West Ham at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday before taking on Leeds three days later.
