De Bruyne: Man City deserve credit for narrow UCL win
- Planet Sport writer
- 5 April 2022
Belgian star suggests critics 'should try' playing attack v defence on the training ground to see how hard it was to break down Atletico
Kevin de Bruyne insisted Manchester City deserved plenty of credit after they ground down Atletico Madrid to earn a slender advantage in their Champions League quarter-final.
The in-form Belgian midfielder slotted home the only goal of the game on 69 minutes after a defence-splitting pass from substitute Phil Foden.
Prior to that, it had threatened to be a frustrating night at the Etihad Stadium for City against defensively-minded opponents who failed to register a single shot during the first leg.
'Try it on a training pitch'
Speaking to BT Sport afterwards, De Bruyne said: "They played almost five at the back and five in midfield, it is very hard to find the spaces."
"I would recommend everybody who says something to us on this game to try on a training pitch.
All Man City needed was Phil Foden on the pitch 😅
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 5, 2022
80 seconds after coming on he unlocks the Atletico defence to set up Kevin De Bruyne!
Big goal in this tie...#UCL pic.twitter.com/rRIXIah2EI
"The way we played was good because we didn't give anything away, you need to be calm and patient, try to find the balls and the spaces because they were compact.
"One-nil is one-nil, there is no away goals, I expect similar over there, but maybe if the game is tight they will have to attack a little bit more."
That second leg takes place at the Wanda Metropolitano next Wednesday, April 13.
Guardiola rues missed chances
City manager Pep Guardiola said he was disappointed that the winning margin had not been greater.
"We played an incredible top side, difficult to face, but we had chances to score, especially a second and third," he said.
"It was a tough opening (tie) and will be decided in Madrid.
"All the guys were playing well, but of course we knew with (substitutes) Gabriel (Jesus) and Phil (Foden) would be having special energy and Jack (Grealish) for the quality to keep with the ball.
"We had to be focused on what we had to do. It is not easy to face a team like they have with all their experience in the tournament, but we are going there to try to score a goal and win the game."
Next up for City is Sunday's home game with Premier League rivals Liverpool, one being billed as a potential title-decider.
