MANCHESTER CITY STAR Kevin De Bruyne is tired of comparisons to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, claiming: “If I make 10 goals, they score 100.”
Having been a talismanic presence for Pep Guardiola’s Premier League leaders this season, the Belgium international playmaker is drawing plenty of praise.
De Bruyne is now considered to be a member of the global elite, with 11 goals netted across all competitions in 2017-18 and 18 assists supplied.
The 26-year-old is, however, reluctant to be drawn into the debate regarding his standing alongside superstar performers at Barcelona and Real Madrid, with it his opinion that he is a “completely different” player.
Having been likened to Messi and Ronaldo again while on an international duty, De Bruyne told Het Belang van Limburg: “It is impossible to compare me with them. Our positions are completely different.
“They are much higher on the pitch and score ten times more than me.
“If I make 10 in a season, they score 100. But then I have other tasks on the pitch.”
City boss Pep Guardiola has suggested during the current campaign that De Bruyne is on his way to scaling similar heights to Messi and Ronaldo.
He said of a remarkably consistent performer: “He is not playing like this in just one game. It’s the whole season – every three days – playing that way.
“The way he’s played it’s difficult to find one [like it] in Europe.”
De Bruyne has been able to maintain his standards throughout the season despite becoming an obvious target for opponents to try and contain.
He can be subjected to rough treatment at times, but that is all part of the fun for a man performing at the peak of his powers.
“I do not feel really targeted by the opponents,” said De Bruyne.
“Tackles are part of football. I do not cry when I’m hit. I bite my teeth and I continue, with or without pain.
“Football is simply a contact sport.”
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Muller isn’t only a doubt, he’s definitely out! He’s suspended
“Successful spell at Mainz” – he was relegated with them lol
@Stephen Walsh: bit like ole at Cardiff
@Stephen Walsh: Be careful,you’ll upset samstheman,only Liverpool fans are allowed to comment about Klopp in here……
@Stephen Walsh: he also got them promoted to the budesliga for the first time in their clubs history. But we will be selective here.
@John Connolly: I don’t think issue is people commenting on klopp. It’s people who only bother to comment when it’s about klopp.
@Seaniecp: 200% Sean
@Seaniecp: does an alarm go off with you lads when a comment is posted?
@paul dunne: sure you lads are like clockwork Paulie
@paul dunne: Talk to Joe, Talk to Joe.
@samstheman: up your game man theirs money on you.
@paul dunne: *there is
@samstheman: good lord.
@paul dunne: the gambling has ruined your grammar son shine
@samstheman: .
@paul dunne: that’s the shot now
@samstheman: don’t let me down on Tuesday night.
@paul dunne: ah man if you’re banking on me to make your night I’m afraid there’s no hope for you. Sure you can talk to Joe on Wednesday, he’ll sort you right out.
@samstheman: don’t hesitate to jump on the defensive when the alarm goes off.
@paul dunne: once you talk it out everything will be A OK
Like most people that’s good at football at Dortmund.