Why is Nobody Talking About Kevin De Bruyne’s Awful Season?
Despite Manchester City doing well in all competitions, their talisman Kevin De Bruyne is having a poor season, but nobody seems to be mentioning it.
Despite the fact that they aren’t on pace to run away with the league title like they did last season, you have to say that Manchester City have enjoyed another good season under Pep Guardiola. With the team still in contention to win the FA Cup, Premier League, and Champions League after already winning a 2nd consecutive Carabao Cup, City are on pace to get another decent haul of silverware. One player that has hardly contributed to all of this seasons successes however, is the talismanic Kevin De Bruyne, who has struggled with injury and hardly looked like his usual self when fit.
Kevin De Bruyne was a crucial cog in an efficient Manchester City side in 2017-18, finishing as runner-up for Player of the Year and getting the most assists in the league. He hasn’t been anywhere near that level this season, but nobody seems to be mentioning it. This likely has to do with City’s continued success even without De Bruyne’s best contribution, which takes away the impact of his poor form. If you recall fellow Belgian Eden Hazard’s 2015-16 season where he couldn’t find the back of the net until the last few matchweeks of the season, he was slated all year long by the fans and media. Chelsea finished 10th in the league that season, which likely had a lot to do with Hazard being scapegoated. There were no positive results to mask the disastrous performances.
De Bruyne has struggled with injuries this season, most notably 2 ligament injuries which kept him out for 10 matches between August and October, and a further 11 between November and December. These injuries have slowed down the Belgian’s pace, and has caused him to miss crucial portions of the season. When he has been fit however, he has looked lethargic and poor on the pitch, which is a worrying sight.
dark. Next. Why Lacazette is Arsenal's Most Vital Player
Although the injuries can certainly be blamed for Kevin De Bruyne’s issues this season, he is still not hitting anywhere near his usual standards when fit. It seems that Manchester City’s continued success is masking his struggles, but if they fail to win the Premier League and Champions League, the sharks might come back to bite De Bruyne.