‘In Premier League history’… Ederson in awe of £400k-a-week Man City teammate as he makes superb analogy

Redaction Simon Brett with Tom Procter
Published on 2024-02-05 09:30:00

Ederson has praised Kevin De Bruyne upon the midfielder’s return for Manchester City, likening his importance to the team to that of a chess game.

The team’s strong performance so far in 2024, having won four games in a row, highlights their readiness for a significant push in the second half of the season.

With Arsenal’s win over Liverpool shaking up the title race, City is now in a position to reclaim the lead as they prepare to face Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Central to City’s prospects of reclaiming the title and securing further trophies is the return of Kevin De Bruyne, who has been the subject of praise from teammate Ederson. ederson.

De Bruyne has delivered an outstanding performance since returning to action last month. Despite his recent injury hiatus, the 32-year-old has left an impact in every game he’s played and does not appear rusty, which poses a significant threat to City’s title rivals.

Ederson emphasized the significance of De Bruyne’s return, comparing it to the protection of a king in chess, a symbol of the Belgian’s importance to the team.

He expressed delight in having the ‘king’ back on the team and acknowledged De Bruyne’s exceptional playmaking abilities.

He said (via mancity.com): “It’s just like chess – you have to protect the king [De Bruyne]! Now we have our ‘king’ back, one of the best assisters in Premier League history, third in the list now.

“We’re so happy to have him back and playing good football, especially after such a long time out. He’s a player that our team missed a lot because he has such ability – he finds passes that very few players can find.

“He gets assists, scores goals, plays good football, he keeps the ball, so I’m very happy that he’s back and that he has returned to his high level.

“I hope that he can help us a lot for the rest of the season, not only him, but the whole group.

De Bruyne’s return is emblematic of City’s high hopes for success for the remainder of the season. His stellar play, combined with maintaining the level of performance, will be a crucial factor in City’s quest for triumphs.

Ederson’s analogy of De Bruyne as a chess piece reflects the importance of safeguarding the star midfielder, ensuring he remains at his peak performance level.

Guarding De Bruyne from the risk of injury while utilizing his match-winning capabilities will serve as a significant priority for City in the upcoming matches.

Although there are expectations of some strategic rotation of De Bruyne to prevent wear and tear, primarily due to recent injuries, City will prioritize his playing time in the subsequent matches to leverage his unique talent on the field.

Read Original article on Manchester City News