Manchester City playmaker Kevin De Bruyne said he was delighted that his team had rediscovered their ruthlessness in Sunday’s 3-1 Premier League victory at Chelsea, although it felt a “bit bizarre” to play as a striker, reports Reuters.
With the club’s record goalscorer Sergio Aguero on the bench as he manages his knee injury and fellow striker Gabriel Jesus out after contracting COVID-19, De Bruyne was moved forward and the Belgian responded with a goal and an assist.
“Bit bizarre in the beginning,” De Bruyne told Sky Sports when asked about his experience. “I’ve done it a few times in my career. Obviously we have a lot of forwards out and the coach asked me to do this job, so I tried my best to do it as good as possible.”
Victory means City are unbeaten in seven league games and fifth in the table with 29 points from 15 matches, four points behind leaders Liverpool with a game in hand.
“It’s important we win one of these big games. This season we had played some good games but not won any of them so we have shown we can win the big games,” De Bruyne said.
“We’re still fighting an uphill battle but we are getting closer, that’s all we can do now. “The years we were champions we were winning big games. It’s a bit different this year because everyone is losing points. We had a bad start but we are coming back so it’s a good thing we’re here fighting and that’s all we can do now.”
De Bruyne should have given City the lead when he was played in by a superb pass from Joao Cancelo but the Belgian dragged his shot agonisingly wide of the far post.
Three minutes later though City went ahead as Foden played the ball sideways to Gundogan who produced a silky turn before firing a right-footed shot past Edouard Mendy.
City doubled their lead in the 21st minute when De Bruyne threaded a pass in to Foden who finished clinically. The wheels really fell of the Chelsea wagon in the 34th minute when De Bruyne headed a ball out and Raheem Sterling had half the length of the pitch at his mercy with Chelsea’s defence desperately trying to reel him in. Sterling looked to have over-elaborated as he was forced wide but eventually turned to thud a shot against the post with the ball rebounding to De Bruyne who coolly slotted home.
Chelsea enjoyed more possession in the second half with City content to play on the break but they looked a forlorn side and rarely tested City’s American goalie Zack Steffen who was making his Premier League debut in place of Ederson.
The only blot on City’s copybook was the late goal by Hudson-Odoi who turned in a cross from Kai Havertz.