13 January 2024 , 20:55
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Kevin De Bruyne admitted he was dead on his feet after breathing life into Manchester City ’s title bid.
The Belgian international came off the bench with 20 minutes to go to score a brilliant equaliser before setting us an injury-time winner for Oscar Bobb with a stunning pass. It was his first Premier League appearance since rupturing his hamstring in August.
De Bruyne said. "I'm dead, honestly. It was crazy. I missed this, you know. I had a big injury and I needed the time. But, I enjoyed myself and worked hard and to come here in this stadium and environment, I think it was willpower more than anything else but it was crazy.
"I think it’s more willpower than sharpness. I know I’m not able to do that for 90 minutes at the moment, but I know I can put in a shift for 20-25 minutes at full pace. I can feel it in my lungs with the cold, but it can’t be any better than this can it?"
Even without De Bruyne at full tilt, City looked a different side after his introduction and his influence salvaged a victory as Guardiola's side were heading for another potentially damaging defeat in the title race.
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City now trail Liverpool by just two points ahead of a sunshine training break in Abu Dhabi. That should give De Bruyne more time to work on his fitness, while Man City's next fixtures - aside from the FA Cup clash at Tottenham - are all favourable ties for the Belgian to regain some match sharpness ahead of the title run-in.
With De Bruyne starting on the bench, it was Bernardo Silva who put the champions ahead with a brilliant backheel - only for Eddie Howe’s men to come roaring back with two spectacular goals in three minutes from Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon.
De Bruyne scored City's second and set up the winner in a brilliant cameo off the bench (AFP via Getty Images)But Toon could not handle De Bruyne. City boss Pep Guardiola said: “Kevin is a special player, a legend. That’s why he’s loved by our fans. Hopefully in the second part of the season he can make sure we are there at the end again.
“We play the same way even when we don’t have Kevin in the team. But to win games you need players like him and Erling Haaland. We know what we have to do, but the quality and vision he has isn’t about tactics, it’s about his talent.
“I have the feeling that the team is still hungry despite winning five out of six titles and three in a row. So why can’t we win it again?”