Pep Guardiola is in the process of a mid-season rebuilding work as he seeks a third successive Carabao Cup against Aston VillaWelcome to Kevin De Bruyne’s Manchester City. This was the deafening message sent by the Belgian in a midweek dismantling of
Real Madrid that will have Aston Villa wondering how to shackle him when he tries to drive City to a third successive Carabao Cup on Sunday.
Operating as a false 9, De Bruyne’s performance in the
Champions League last-16 first leg ranked as a career highlight. There was a sublime assist for Gabriel Jesus’s equaliser and an ice-cool penalty for the winner, while the bewitching ability to conjure space ran from first whistle to last.