Real Madrid efficiently neutralized Erling Haaland’s scoring prowess within the first leg of their Champions League semifinal, but amid their defensive triumph, the indomitable brilliance of Kevin De Bruyne continued to shine unabated.
The Belgian’s thunderbolt on the Bernabeu left the tie delicately balanced at 1-1 heading into Wednesday’s second leg, however with City oozing confidence because of a 100% report in 14 dwelling video games in 2023.
Pep Guardiola’s males are 4 matches away from changing into simply the second facet to ever win the treble of the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup in the identical season.
A fifth league title in six seasons is nearly as good as received with a most of three factors wanted from City’s closing three video games.
Manchester United can have their probability to forestall the Red Devils’ treble in 1998/99 being matched within the FA Cup closing.
But with whoever emerges victorious on the Etihad large favorites to be topped European champions in opposition to Inter Milan or AC Milan in Istanbul subsequent month, Madrid are the largest impediment between City and immortality.
Real’s personal run to Champions League glory final season was fuelled by goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois’ perceived slight at his fame in England.
“I don’t think I get enough respect, especially in England,” mentioned the previous Chelsea stopper after his man-of-the-match efficiency denied Liverpool within the closing.
For his worldwide teammate De Bruyne, it’s the reverse.
Widely thought-about one of many Premier League’s best imports, the 31-year-old has twice been topped Players’ participant of the 12 months by his friends alongside a rising haul of 10 main trophies below Guardiola.
But City’s failure to recover from the road within the Champions League and the Belgian golden era’s lack of a serious event victory means he has not all the time commanded the identical stage of respect on the continent.
De Bruyne’s third-placed end within the Ballon d’Or voting final 12 months is the very best of his profession.
Best mind
That may all change ought to he be the one to make the distinction and put Madrid to the sword, as he did within the first leg.
“I’ve come across a lot of players, played with a lot of players, saw a lot of players, played against some of the greatest. I think Kevin, his brain is the best I’ve ever seen,” mentioned Arsenal and Barcelona nice Thierry Henry, who labored with De Bruyne throughout two spells as an assistant coach with Belgium.
“I saw him for six years on and off with Belgium. You love the man a bit more because I saw the stuff he did in training and in games. He’s unbelievable. His brain, I’m still thinking about some stuff I’ve seen, he’s on a different planet.”
Despite the eye on Haaland’s half-century of objectives in his first season in England, De Bruyne has continued to be essential to City’s success.
He scored twice because the defending champions landed a telling blow on Arsenal within the Premier League title race final month.
But creativity quite than objectives is the foreign money wherein De Bruyne’s affect is greatest measured.
He has 27 assists in 43 appearances this season, changing into the quickest participant to 100 Premier League assists within the course of.
“He’s not comfortable to play with a pause, he needs to play with speed,” mentioned Guardiola.
“It is so troublesome to discover a participant that performs at this pace and has the power to see the passes greater than when is extra calm or strolling.
“The normal players, when you walk, you see everything. But when you run a high speed, you are not able to see what happened. He’s completely the opposite. That’s why he is an exceptional player.”
Much like his supervisor, De Bruyne’s achievements at City have all the time include the caveat of by no means having received the Champions League.
Win on Wednesday and it’s laborious to see how they are going to be stopped.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
