Pep Guardiola Hails the Departing De Bruyne as a Premier League Legend
Guardiola calls De Bruyne a legend
Pep Guardiola asserts that Kevin De Bruyne will be regarded as “one of the greatest” midfielders in Premier League history following the Belgian playmaker’s announcement of his departure from Manchester City at the end of the season.
De Bruyne played under Guardiola for 10 seasons, securing 16 trophies, which encompass six Premier League crowns and one Champions League medal throughout his decade in England.
De Bruyne’s 118 assists in the Premier League ranks second, following Ryan Giggs, and Guardiola stated that the 33-year-old merits a statue outside the Etihad, alongside contemporary legends like Sergio Aguero and Vincent Kompany.
“One of the greatest midfielders ever to have played in this country, and I think with Manchester City, there is no doubt,” Guardiola said after De Bruyne announced his departure.
“There’s no doubt he’s one of the greatest for sure because of his consistency in important games, the not important games, being there every three days all the time. There is no doubt.”
De Bruyne’s last season at City has been affected by injuries; but, it may culminate positively as the club advances to the FA Cup semi-finals, where they will face Nottingham Forest.
Guardiola stated he was uncertain whether De Bruyne will participate in the inaugural 32-team Club World Cup at the season’s conclusion, scheduled in the United States from June 13 to July 13, while the Belgian’s contract expires on June 30.
The City manager described De Bruyne’s departure as a “sad day” for the club, asserting that City would not have achieved the same levels of success in his absence.
“He gave all of us his humility and with his influence in our success in the last decade, that would have been impossible to imagine without him,” Guardiola said.
