Guardiola praises ‘legend’ De Bruyne’s instant spark for City’s title tilt
THE GUARDIAN – Pep Guardiola welcomed Kevin De Bruyne back to Premier League combat from a five-month absence and, after watching his playmaker turn potential defeat into a 3-2 victory at Newcastle, suggested the Belgian could turn the title race Manchester City’s way.
After stepping off the bench midway through the second half with City trailing 2-1 at St James’ Park, De Bruyne swiftly equalised before creating Oscar Bobb’s stoppage time winner.
“Kevin is a legend,” said Guardiola, whose second-placed side are now only two points behind Liverpool, the leaders. “He is loved by our people and, hopefully, in the last months he can help us be there to the end.”
City have, by their lofty standards, struggled at times since De Bruyne injured a hamstring in August, necessitating surgery. “We need players like Kevin,” said Guardiola, who will be without his key striker, Erling Haaland, until next month. “We need him to do something special in the final third. That is not tactical ability but talent, individual talent.
“I think everybody agrees we made a really good performance today against such a physical team in Newcastle. They made good transitions and, after taking the lead [through Bernardo Silva], we conceded two goals but after that talent made the difference. At half‑time I told the players: ‘You are amazing, stick together and we will do it.’
“It was really important to win because Liverpool are flying and we have to go to Anfield so it’s better to be close the them.”
It left Eddie Howe frustrated and his injury-hit side stuck in 10th after a run of six defeats in seven league games. “We have so much promise, so much good about us but to be sat here with nothing is very painful for the players,” said Newcastle’s manager after seeing Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon score fine goals. “The first half was everything we wanted to be. We want to be front-foot but, in the second half, we couldn’t manage that.”