De Bruyne urged to focus on ‘simple things’ amid dip in form
Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne, right, celebrates scoring their side's third goal with Phil Foden during an English FA Cup fifth-round soccer match between Bristol City and Manchester City at Ashton Gate stadium in Bristol, England, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023. (Adam Davy/PA via AP)[ASSOCIATED PRESS/Adam Davy]
Kevin De Bruyne has long been one of the untouchables at Manchester City. Being benched for three of the team’s last seven Premier League games suggests that might no longer be the case. City manager Pep Guardiola says De Bruyne needs to focus on the “simple things” to get back to his best. They’ll both hope that starts Tuesday against Leipzig in the second leg of their last-16 matchup in the Champions League. The score is 1-1 after the first game three weeks ago.
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Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne, right, is tackled by Newcastle's Sean Longstaff during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and and Newcastle, at the Etihad stadium in Manchester, England, Saturday, March 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Dave Thompson
Manchester City's Erling Haaland celebrates their victory at the English Premier League soccer match between Crystal Palace and Manchester City at Selhurst Park stadium, in London, Saturday, March 11, 2023. (AP Photo/David Cliff)
Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/David Cliff