Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne reckons City are on the right track to challenge for trophies in the following seasons if the team keeps the current work rate under Pep Guardiola.
The Citizens are on a eight-game unbeaten run following a shaky start of the season and have reduced the gap to leaders Chelsea to 11 points. De Bruyne believes Guardiola’s innovations could unleash the huge potential in the current team.
“We just have a very different approach, playing style than we had last year.” he said. “I think we are playing much better football, but we have maybe had some growing pains and made a few mistakes that in the end cost us a few points but we’re playing better.
“The job we are doing is really good and we have more points that last year so I think in general we’re doing a better job. I think the team is very good together and the way we’re evolving as a team is in the right direction.
“I think this team can get a lot better. A lot of players, especially the young guys who have just come in, they have limits which are probably unreachable for a lot of players.
“They are so young, just 20, 21 years old and what they’re doing already now is unbelievable.
“Imagine if they continue to work hard and they achieve what they can do in three or four years. You cannot imagine. Everyone is thinking about now and for these young players it’s not easy to do everything they do on a regular basis every three days.”
Guardiola brought Gabriel Jesus to City in January as the Brazilian became the club’s top performer before injury curbed his progress. The good form of German winger Leroy Sane, who joined City in the summer, has also been difficult to ignore. And despite City’s bad start of the season, De Bruyne believes manager Guardiola is doing all the right things at the moment and does not deserve the criticism he is getting.
“He likes to play beautiful football, that’s no mistake. But it’s not that he’s stubborn or something, he just tries to play the way he always played with his teams.
“He’s convinced this is the right way for City to play so I think people are probably harsh on him because his track record is unbelievable. I don’t think he is trying to change anything in England, he’s just trying to do everything that’s possible to win us games, titles.”
City drew top-four rivals Arsenal on Sunday as they prepare to face Premier League leaders Chelsea at Stamford Bridge today. The Citizens will be without Victor Moses who is out toe injury.
