Pep Guardiola will not have much to complain about after witnessing how Manchester City have started this season.
Guardiola will be content that his City side have won four Premier League games out of four heading into their Champions League opener against Inter Milan on Wednesday.
The Manchester City boss will be hoping that the hosts can keep their winning run going against Simone Inzaghi’s side.
So far, several of Pep Guardiola’s most trusted players have started the season well.
Man City’s Kevin De Bruyne singled out for impressive start to the season
Kevin De Bruyne is certainly one of them who seems to have benefited from being handed an extended break in the aftermath of the European Championship during the summer.
Despite not partaking in City’s pre-season tour of the United States, the £54.5 million man looks visibly fit.
Gabby Agbonlahor emphasised De Bruyne’s impact by claiming that considering he has started the season injury-free, City will win the league by more than two points unlike last season this time around.
The 33-year-old has entered his tenth season as a Manchester City player and yet, his influence remains sky-high.
Ahead of City’s upcoming clash against Inter Milan, journalist Sam Lee asked Pep Guardiola via HaytersTV about De Bruyne’s start to the season.
“I wanted to ask about Kevin De Bruyne because obviously, he had the difficult injury last season and then he came back. A lot of assists, some games he was really good, some games, not so good. But it seems like this season, he’s started it as good as ever. How does he seem, how does he feel around the training pitch, in games?
Pep Guardiola lauded De Bruyne for his bright showings so far this campaign: “Yeah, I agree. But it’s the same as Erling [Haaland] in all the comments after the game. I said the season starts now and of course, there are a lot of games, started really well, come back good, especially in the Premier League games and the competitions that we had.”
“Now we see, every three, four days, so cannot be sustained by any player every week and yeah, I’m happy, his mood is good and he’s playing at a good level.”
Danny Murphy once likened De Bruyne to Roger Federer, touching on the midfield maestro’s similarly “effortless” approach to the tennis legend on the football pitch — as he has looked timeless once again this season.
Pep Guardiola will be banking on De Bruyne masterclass vs Inter Milan
Pep Guardiola will be hoping that Manchester City start their Champions League campaign on the right foot, especially at the Etihad Stadium by beating Inter Milan; looking at the six-time Premier League winner to deliver the goods.
Especially considering Guardiola feels De Bruyne is in form, he would be banking on his talismanic midfielder to rise to the occasion like he tends to in Europe’s elite competition.
In a potentially open game between two European heavyweights, the decorated technician could be afforded the space to thread defence-splitting passes through, carry the ball with ease and wreak havoc.
How De Bruyne fares against a top-class Inter Milan side will be interesting to see.
The Manchester City vice-captain would be hoping to have a night to remember against one of the best teams in the world.
