Kevin De Bruyne won’t be a square peg in a round hole | OneFootball

Ever since Rodri went down for the majority of this season with an ACL injury, Pep Guardiola has searched for solutions to fill the void his absence created. Mateo Kovacic, Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva have stepped into City’s midfield this season. One player who won’t be the solution to City’s issues in the heart of their midfield is Kevin De Bruyne. It isn’t his role and Pep Guardiola made a point of declaring this yesterday.

Speaking ahead of his team’s FA Cup tie against Salford City Guardiola was asked if Kevin De Bruyne could play as a defensive midfielder. Guardiola’s answer was emphatic as that is not De Bruyne’s role. The City manager explained: “Kevin cannot play there. I’ve been nine years with him, and I know his attributes better than anyone else. He can play in some positions and drop deeper when we want to do that, but Kevin has another talent, and we need his energy upfront. He is unbelievable in the final third and I want him there, leading that position.”

The days of Kevin De Bruyne having the legs to control City’s midfield have been and gone. Age has caught up to the Manchester City legend so he can’t be expected to play a role that carries such a heavy workload. Perhaps when he was younger and quicker De Bruyne could’ve plugged the hole left by Rodri’s absence. But now it isn’t a role for Belgian international.

That’s not to say there is no role for De Bruyne to play for Manchester City. He has a key role to play in the final third for his team. As Pep Guardiola said De Bruyne’s best work is done in the final third. He is still arguably City’s most dangerous creative weapon and De Bruyne will be vital for his team’s push to resurrect their 24/25 season. Guardiola stated emphatically that is where De Bruyne will stay and that is the way it should be.

Manchester City do need another option to play as a defensive midfielder. That is one area they will be looking to address in the January transfer window. But Kevin De Bruyne isn’t the square peg to be slotted into a round hole. That isn’t where he does his best work as Pep Guardiola told the media yesterday.