Kevin De Bruyne left Craig Bellamy drooling over his goal after the Belgian announced his return from injury with a beautiful strike in Manchester City’s penalty shoot-out win against Leicester at the King Power Stadium on Tuesday night.
Pep Guardiola’s side booked their spot in the Carabao Cup semi-finals thanks to De Bruyne, who started his first game since the start of November.
Former Man City and Liverpool striker Bellamy was thrilled with De Bruyne’s first-half goal from outside the penalty area, claiming that Leicester only had themselves to blame for allowing the playmaker the opportunity to have a shot.
“Players like De Bruyne, once you give him the option to come inside he’s going to shoot,” said Bellamy at half-time in Sky Sports Main Event’s live coverage of the Carabao Cup quarter final clash on Tuesday night.
“[It’s] very difficult to deal with and very few times he doesn’t hit the target.
“Outstanding player.”
OPINION
De Bruyne is such a class player. It would be unfair on Man City’s other players to say that they have missed him while he was injured, but they really could have done with him against Chelsea in the 2-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge earlier this month. Maybe De Bruyne would have been able to help City from avoiding defeat in that game, or maybe not, we will never know, but City fans should be thankful that the Belgian is back because he is without doubt among the best players in the world, especially in his position. Hopefully De Bruyne can stay fit now until the end of the season. Guardiola will be desperate not only to win the Premier League again but also the Champions League. Some of Europe’s big clubs have been struggling to play consistently well this season so it could be Man City’s best ever chance to win the one major trophy that has eluded them.