Pep Guardiola was full of high praise for Kevin De Bruyne after the Belgian’s return to Manchester City’s starting lineup inspired their return to winning ways thanks to a 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest on Wednesday.
The Cityzens went into the match on the back of four consecutive Premier League defeats and a seven-game winless streak across all competitions. However, they bounced back emphatically at the Etihad, courtesy of goals from Bernardo Silva, De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku.
City are unbeaten in their last 31 Premier League matches when De Bruyne played from the start (W26, D5), with the Belgium international contributing directly to 25 goals in those games (9 goals and 16 assists).
After registering two goal involvements against Forest, Guardiola praised De Bruyne’s impact on the team, highlighting how his return to the starting lineup helped end their recent winless streak.
“He was excellent, especially in the first half, even in the second half,” Guardiola told Amazon Prime.
“Really good, the presence and when he’s fit, he’s a player that is so important for us. For many years since he arrived from Germany, he has been an incredible influence on our game.
“[The difference is] we won, [before] we make a performance but could not win but [on Wednesday] we won. Now everything is nice.”
With the win against Forest, City have managed to reduce the gap between them and league leaders Liverpool from eleven to nine points after the Reds were held in a six-goal thriller by Newcastle United at St. James’ Park.
Olaoluwa is a dedicated sports writer and passionate football enthusiast with two years of experience. Known for his keen analysis and commitment to the game, his work reflects a deep love for football, blending strategic insight with the emotional moments that make it a global passion. He is focused on honing his skills and consistently aims to inspire and engage readers through every article he writes.
