Manchester City have endured an awful run of form as they head into Sunday's derby with Manchester United and Kevin de Bruyne has now spoken out on the crisis engulfing the champions
Kevin De Bruyne
Kevin De Bruyne has warned his Manchester City team-mates to accept their position
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Kevin De Bruyne insists Manchester City must accept where they are and try to deal with their biggest crisis.
City’s season is falling apart and they are eight points behind in the title race, out of the Carabao Cup and in danger of missing out on the last 16 of the Champions League. De Bruyne claims they cannot hide behind excuses and must fight to turn their season around.
“You have to accept the situation and accept that at the moment it’s going the way it is,” he said. “But you don’t make excuses and you work hard. You try to do your job and hopefully you improve.
“I think there have been games, like Bournemouth, where we were not good, certain moments in the Tottenham game. But there have also been moments where we have played alright, but we didn’t get the goals in that moment.
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“It was the same against Juventus. We could have been ahead one or 2-0. We didn’t do that, we concede and then we were in trouble. At this moment in time, it’s going like this and we have to try to find something to change this, but the quality is there.
“It’s a challenge we need to accept and obviously it’s not nice, but it’s not the first time in my career I have endured it, so we will deal with it.”
De Bruyne understands how important today’s derby is for the fans and says the players are determined to win for them. He said: “I understand it’s a big game.
TURIN, ITALY - DECEMBER 11: Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City appears dejected at the end of the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD6 match between Juventus and Manchester City at Juventus Stadium on December 11, 2024 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Scaccianoce - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
City have now won just one of their last 10 games
“I understand the significance of winning that game and I understand the bragging rights that it gives the supporters. “It doesn’t really change what I do because it’s a big game worth three points. I have to do my job that I always do.”
Boss Guardiola is also fully aware of how important this weekend's Manchester Derby will be. The Spaniard is desperate to see his side turn their form around, having won just one of their last 10 matches.
“It’s an important football game,” said Guardiola. “It’s important emotionally for our fans in the stadium and it’s special, but always in these types of games I would say that the less emotional you are you will be better.”
“I think in our jobs always we want to do our best and when it doesn’t happen you’re more uncomfortable. Not just managers, but especially the people under scrutiny for every step we do as a team.
“You think more about what can you do, I feel the past few weeks with the situation [the way it] is with the results… I’m really pleased for the way we played and have a certain authority in what I’ve done in my career so that I know when we play good or not."
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