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Tag: Kevin De Bruyne

  • De Bruyne shares differences between Pep, Conte

    De Bruyne shares differences between Pep, Conte

    Kevin De Bruyne signed for Napoli from Manchester City this summer on a free transfer and has told SkySport that ‘everything is going well’ at his new club as he compares the difference between Antonio Conte and Pep Guardiola.

    Speaking to Sky, via Gianluca Di Marzio’s website, De Bruyne said that at Napoli ‘the tactics will be different’ as ‘Conte leans more toward the defensive side”, whilst his old boss Guardiola ‘has a more attacking style.’

    However, De Bruyne was relaxed about the difference in tactical styles, saying ‘I have all the time I need to get to know the coach and his approach’, after all, ‘we’ve only been working together for ten days.’

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    The Belgian midfielder opened his interview by telling Sky “I feel good”, after completing his move from City, “Obviously I have only been here ten days but everything is going well. We are training hard and I am happy. I think the quality here is high. Napoli have many good players but I already knew this much. Last year, you were Serie A champions so I know the level is high. We are working a lot as right now it is about getting to know the team, the players and the coaches better. I’ll get to know them in the coming weeks.”

    De Bruyne joins Conte’s Napoli after ten years at Manchester City in which the 34-year-old cemented himself as a Premier League legend.

    He has 111 caps for the Belgian national team and a wealth of experience at the top levels of the game that he brings with him to Naples.

  • De Bruyne set to join  Napoli  after Belgium qualifiers

    De Bruyne set to join  Napoli  after Belgium qualifiers

    Kevin De Bruyne has finished his commitments with the Belgium national team for the summer and is now ready to formally complete his transfer to Napoli, reports in Italy confirm.

    De Bruyne is on the verge of joining Antonio Conte’s Scudetto-winning Napoli side on a free transfer upon the expiry of his Manchester City contract, which brings a 10-year-spell at the Etihad to an end.

    De Bruyne had initially been expected to complete his move to Napoli at the beginning of June, but postponed the final formalities of his transfer until after Belgium’s World Cup qualifiers, which took place over the last week.

    The 34-year-old lined up as a starter in both of Belgium’s June World Cup qualifiers, namely the 1-1 draw with North Macedonia and the 4-3 thriller over Wales on Monday night, which included an 88th -minute winner from the prospective Napoli midfielder.

    Read Also: Int’l Friendly: NFF hails Abiodun on cash gifts to Falcons, Lionesses

    Now, according to various sources including Gianluca Di Marzio and Matteo Moretto, De Bruyne is now ready to complete the last few details of his move to Napoli.

    The necessary documents and a two-year contract has already been signed, and a medical is now expected to take place by the end of the week.

    Napoli are also on the verge of formally completing a transfer for 20-year-old Empoli defender Luca Marianucci.

  • De Bruyne set for Napoli medicals  June 2

    De Bruyne set for Napoli medicals  June 2

    Kevin De Bruyne is expected to undergo his medical tests on June 2 and sign the contract with Napoli, making his move from Manchester City as a free agent.

    President Aurelio De Laurentiis practically confirmed the arrival of the Belgium international, stating during yesterday’s Scudetto celebrations that he had spoken to De Bruyne and his family on a video call, then suggesting they had already chosen a villa in Naples.

    According to Calciomercato.com, there is also a date set to finalise the transfer, with medical tests and the contract signing scheduled for June 2.

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    Napoli tend to have their medicals performed at the Villa Stuart clinic in Rome.

    Sport Mediaset are also confident the details of the contract have been worked out, with a two-year deal and option for a third worth €5.5m per season net, plus a signing-on bonus believed to be set at €10m.

    He turns 34 in June and had been in Manchester since 2015, having previously played for Chelsea, Wolfsburg, Werder Bremen and KRC Genk.

    Naples is a lifestyle choice as much as a football one, as he loves the area so much that he chose it for his wedding.

  • De Bruyne ‘surprised’ over Man City exit

    De Bruyne ‘surprised’ over Man City exit

    Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has said he was surprised by the Premier League club’s decision not to offer him a contract extension, describing it as a business-driven move.

    The 33-year-old Belgian, whose deal expires in June, announced on social media this month that he will be leaving City at the end of the season after a decade at the club.

    “It was half a week until I reported it out. It wasn’t nice. My family wasn’t home. They were on Easter holidays so it was a bit weird but it is what it is,” De Bruyne told reporters after Saturday’s 2-0 win at Everton.

    Almost any move is allowed and the fights end based on audience reaction.

    “I don’t feel like I want to share (the details) because it’s basically more business-wise for them, they just make decision based on that.

    “It was not really a long conversation it was just what they told me and then there’s nothing. I have to accept the situation, even if I feel like I can still do a good job, but that’s it.”

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    De Bruyne has played 416 games for City, scoring 107 goals and providing 177 assists, including 120 in the Premier League — the second-most behind Ryan Giggs. He has made 23 league appearances this season in between fitness issues.

    Turning 34 in June, De Bruyne helped City win six Premier League titles and the Champions League after joining in 2015.

    “I have not had any offer the whole year, they just took a decision. Obviously, I was a bit surprised but I just have to accept it. Honestly, I still think I can perform at this level like I’m showing,” he added.

    “I don’t really care. The decision has been taken and since then I just want to play football like I always have. I need to look at the future, start speaking to people.”

  • EPL: Kevin de Bruyne leads comeback win over Crystal Palace

    EPL: Kevin de Bruyne leads comeback win over Crystal Palace

    Six days after being condemned for their performance in the derby stalemate at Old Trafford, Manchester City roared back from two goals down to beat Crystal Palace in a thrilling encounter at Etihad Stadium.

    After their defence had been badly exposed for Eberechi Eze and Chris Richards to put the visitors into a comfortable lead, City hit back after Palace had a third goal ruled out by a close call from the new semi-automated offside technology.

    Outgoing City skipper Kevin de Bruyne was at the centre of the astounding reversal of fortunes.

    First De Bruyne levelled as he deceived Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson with a superb 33rd-minute free-kick. Omar Marmoush levelled before the break with his seventh goal for City, and then Mateo Kovacic drove De Bruyne’s lay-off into the bottom corner a minute into the second half.

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    James McAtee finally found the target after wasting a couple of excellent chances on his first Premier League start, dashing on to Ederson’s punt downfield before rounding Henderson and applying the finish. Nico O’Reilly’s deflected effort completed the scoring as City hit five goals in a home Premier League game for the first time this season.

    It was a thrilling way to end an uncharacteristic run of six City games which had produced a total of 10 goals.

    More importantly, it took them back into fourth spot in the Premier League and applied the pressure on Chelsea and Newcastle in the scrap for Champions League qualification.

    There was some bad news as goalkeeper Ederson went down after feeling a pain in his leg as he went to make a routine second-half clearance and had to be replaced by Stefan Ortega.

  • Russia 2018: Brazil crash out of World Cup, as Belgium win 2-1

    Adeyinka Akintunde

     

    Belgium have beaten Brazil 2-1 in Kazan to qualify for the semi-finals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup home, sending the five-time World champions home.

    The Samba Boys  had conceded just one goal in their past four games in Russia but were behind early when Nacer Chadli’s corner struck Fernandinho’s arm and flew into the net, the 10th own goal of this World Cup.

    Fernandinho’s Manchester City team-mate Kevin de Bruyne doubled Belgium’s lead with a sublime arrowed finish from 20 yards after Romelu Lukaku’s powerful run.

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    Brazil could find no answer until a 76th-minute headed reply from Renato Augusto, with star man Neymar virtually anonymous other than three poor attempts to win a penalty, although Referee Milorad Mazic perhaps should have pointed to the spot when Vincent Kompany dived in on Gabriel Jesus.

    Neymar did finally come to life in injury time, forcing a brilliant save from Thibaut Courtois with a curling shot from outside the area, but it was not enough to sustain his team’s challenge.

    Belgium will battle France, who had earlier on sent Uruguay home with a 2-0 victory, in Saint Petersburg on Tuesday 10th July, for a place in the final of the 2018 FIFA World Cup

  • Manchester City players dominate PFA Team of the Year

    Players from the Premier League champions-in-waiting Manchester City dominated the Professional Footballers’ Association’s ( PFA ) Team of the Year announced on Wednesday, occupying five out of 11 spots.

    City defenders Kyle Walker and Nicolas Otamendi, midfielders David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne as well as all-time top scorer Sergio Aguero were named in the side.

    Tottenham Hotspur had three players on the list, including England striker Harry Kane, who made the team for a third straight year along with Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea.

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    Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah, who has 40 goals across all competitions this season and was nominated for the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award, also made the team.

    Chelsea had a lone representative in defender Marcos Alonso.

    PFA Team of the Year: David de Gea, Kyle Walker, Jan Vertonghen, Nicolas Otamendi, Marcos Alonso, David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, Christian Eriksen, Harry Kane, Mohamed Salah, Sergio Aguero.

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  • Manchester City title wins can help De Bruyne claim Ballon d’Or

    Manchester City title wins can help De Bruyne claim Ballon d’Or

    Manchester City playmaker Kevin De Bruyne will be a serious Ballon d‘Or contender if he wins major titles with the English Premier League club, his club manager Pep Guardiola says.

    De Bruyne has been vital to Manchester City’s dominance this campaign with the 26-year-old notching a league-high 14 assists, including three in Saturday’s 5-1 rout of Leicester City.

    “No doubt,’’ Guardiola told reporters when asked if the Belgian could win the prestigious individual award. “He is not (just doing it in) one game. It’s the whole season, every three days playing that way.

    “But he knows and everyone knows, to be there you have to win titles — and titles and titles, especially one. But the way he’s played it’s difficult to find one (better) in Europe.”

    De Bruyne has scored 11 goals and provided 18 assists across all competitions for Manchester City this season, helping them establish a 16-point lead atop the league table.

    Read Also: Manchester City get chance for revenge at Wigan in FA Cup

    But the midfielder is not focused on individual honors.

    “To be fair, when I am busy playing football I don’t care (about that),” De Bruyne said.

    “I do everything to win titles with the team. What happens after is an extra. I am very pleased with the way everything is going for me. I am playing this way because the team is playing this way…

    “At the end, if you get an individual honour, it is beautiful.”

    Manchester City remains in contention to win the quadruple as they prepare for Tuesday’s match against Basel in the UEFA Champions League knockout stages.

    This will be followed by an FA Cup fifth round clash against Wigan Athletic and the League Cup final against Arsenal.

    NAN

  • Late goal by Silva extends Manchester City’s winning run to 13 games

    Late goal by Silva extends Manchester City’s winning run to 13 games

    David Silva scored a late goal as runaway English Premier League leaders Manchester City restored their eight-point lead with a 2-1 victory against West Ham United on Sunday.

    Silva converted Kevin de Bruyne’s brilliant pass from close range in the 83rd minute as City maintained their blistering form this season and won their 13th successive EPL game.

    Nicolas Otamendi had converted substitute Gabriel Jesus’s cross in the 57th minute to equalise, after defender Angelo Ogbonna had headed West Ham into the lead.

    It was the most unlikely lead at the end of a first half in which the hosts dominated.

    City have not lost a game since April, and face second-place rivals Manchester United next Sunday.

    West Ham, who have won only twice all season, sit 19th — three points behind West Bromwich Albion in 17th.

    Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, in his post-match comment, said: “Today was different to (the late winning goal against) Southampton — I did not think that was going to happen.

    “But today, since after five minutes in the second half, I felt we were going to score. Our pace and pass were quicker and better. That is why we are so happy — every game is so tough and it is important to keep our momentum.

    “We started well but lost our patience and couldn’t find the players in position. They moved too much.

    “But you have ups and downs — what is important is that in the second half it was outstanding the way we played.

    “It means we have done 39 points in a row. That is a lot. You see how they run and how they fight, that’s why we are so proud again.

    “Before next week’s match against Manchester United, we have to travel to Ukraine and after that think about Old Trafford. We are going to try to be who we are,” he said.

    West Ham manager David Moyes, on his part, said: “I have to say it was a really good effort. We defended much better today.

    “We’ve worked a bit on it. We had one day where we could prepare.

    “We needed our goalkeeper to play well. He got both hands to most things. I thought most of it was outside the box. I have to say we did a really good job.

    “What a chance we had to make it 2-2 late on. My feeling was I thought we deserved it (to equalise).

    “You get results in different ways and it looked as though we might have got one today. Our effort today was top. For long parts of the game, we were in with a chance of getting a result.

    NAN

  • EPL: Sterling stunner keeps City clear, as chasing pack gets wins too

    EPL: Sterling stunner keeps City clear, as chasing pack gets wins too

    Just when the chasing pack thought the Manchester City juggernaut was suffering a misfire Raheem Sterling scored a stunning stoppage-time winner to give the English Premier League leaders a lift.

    They earned a 2-1 victory over Southampton on Wednesday to move to 40 points.

    With Manchester United having cut the gap to five points and Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool winning, any City stutter would have been cause for celebration.

    But Pep Guardiola’s side thundered on with a club record 12th successive league victory.

    Former Chelsea midfielder Oriol Romeu had cancelled out Kevin De Bruyne’s opener in the 75th minute.

    But six minutes into stoppage time Sterling, for the third match running, snatched City’s winner, this time with a sublime curling shot.

    Manager Antonio Conte was sent to the stands after a verbal meltdown at Stamford Bridge as his Chelsea side laboured to a 1-0 defeat of struggling Swansea City at Stamford Bridge.

    Antonio Rudiger’s first Premier League goal sealed victory.

    “I have apologised because I did the wrong thing,” Conte said of his angry reaction to a fourth official when his side were denied a corner kick in the first half.

    “I have been in to see them after the game. It’s right to speak and apologise with them.”

    Arsenal struck three goals in four second-half minutes as they thrashed Huddersfield Town 5-0 with Mesut Ozil scoring one and supplying assists for Olivier Giroud, who scored a brace, and Alexis Sanchez.

    Alexandre Lacazette’s early goal had separated the sides before the interval although the French striker went off with a suspected groin injury.

    He will probably miss Saturday’s home clash against Manchester United.

    Arsenal have won 12 consecutive home matches.

    Liverpool moved into fifth place with Mohamed Salah taking his tally for the season to a chart-topping 12, thanks to a double in a 3-0 victory at Stoke City.

    After 14 games City have 40 points, with United on 32, Chelsea 29, Arsenal 28 and Liverpool 26.

    Burnley are now sixth, ahead of a sliding Tottenham Hotspur, as Chris Wood and Robbie Brady scored in a 2-1 victory at Bournemouth — their fourth win in five league games.

    “Where we are in the league, everyone will be surprised by that,” Burnley boss Sean Dyche said.

    Wayne Rooney scored a hat-trick, the third with a wonder goal from inside his own half, as Everton thrashed West Ham United 4-0.

    It was a horrible return to Goodison Park for David Moyes whose West Ham side remained in the bottom three.

    Sam Allardyce, who will be named shortly as Everton’s new manager, watched on from the stands as caretaker boss David Unsworth signed off with a victory that lifted Everton to 13th.

    Whatever happens below them, City are looking unstoppable and with 40 points from 14 games and a goal difference of 35 they have recorded the best start in Premier League history.

    They were not at their fluent best and Southampton came closest to scoring before the break with Wesley Hoedt striking the woodwork for the visitors.

    But Sterling’s effort sparked wild celebrations at the Etihad as the former Liverpool player struck yet another late goal to take his tally for the season to 13.

    He has now earned City nine extra points this season with his timely interventions and his latest effort was arguably his best, picking out the top corner with an unstoppable effort.

    “Raheem is a match-winner, I am so happy for him. He is special, it was an amazing goal. It is more than important, it is beautiful,” Guardiola, whose side have dropped only two points this season, said.

    City are now two wins away from matching Arsenal’s record 14-match winning run in the Premier League.

    NAN