Kevin De Bruyne admitted that it would be difficult for his team to replicate the style of football that his Manchester City side are capable of at the World Cup.
De Bruyne cut a frustrated figure during Belgium’s World Cup opener on Wednesday, as his side laboured to an undeserved 1-0 win against Canada. John Herdman’s side – appearing at a World Cup for the first time since 1986 – dominated large chunks of the games, particularly in the first half when they overran Belgium in midfield.
The City star was visibly frustrated with his and his teammates’ performance and was involved in heated discussions with defender Toby Alderweireld and manager Roberto Martinez.
He didn’t celebrate when Michy Batshuayi scored the game’s only goal against the run of play, and after the match admitted that he needs to react in a more positive way when things aren’t going well.
“I do know that my reactions are not always good. I also look for moments afterwards to find that peace but people know that it’s my way to help the team play better and get more out of the game.
“But of course, I also have to learn to react in a better way. Every now and then the emotions spill over but that’s also part of the game.
Roberto Martinez’s side struggled for fluency at times against Canada, despite being the favourites, and De Bruyne insisted that Belgium would not be able to reproduce the aesthetic football regularly on show at City.
At a news conference at Belgium’s team base on Friday, 48 hours ahead of their next match against Morocco, he admitted it was difficult to expect him to replicate his club form even if he wanted to do so on the World Cup stage.
‘We can’t play in the same way as Manchester City. As a national team you have to adapt to the players you have around you,’ he said.
‘Does it frustrate me sometimes? Yes, but I should show that less although that is the perfection I strive for.’
It isn’t just his international teammates that De Bruyne gets frustrated with. Every now and again the midfielder can lose his cool at the Etihad, as Pep Guardiola has highlighted before.
“With Kevin, sometimes it depends on his mood, sometimes he is a little bit like this… grrrrr… when he is a little bit not happy.”
