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Published on 2024-02-01 14:15:00
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has openly discussed the qualities of Kevin De Bruyne as a captain for the club, despite Kyle Walker’s position as group leader.
Some supporters have questioned Walker’s status as Manchester City captain after he was in the media spotlight this week due to an interview with The Sun newspaper.
As a result, there is speculation that Manchester City may consider handing over the captaincy to other members of their five-man leadership group, particularly Kevin De Bruyne and Ruben Dias.
Coincidentally, De Bruyne’s leadership qualities have been highlighted in the media this week, particularly in his role as Manchester City captain on Wednesday night when Kyle Walker was named among the substitutes.
Speaking exclusively to TNT Sports this week, Pep Guardiola admitted that while Kevin De Bruyne is not necessarily a player to openly address the group before matches, his leadership is evident through his on-field actions and performances.
“I think his leadership is proven on the pitch, a person like this,” Guardiola opened. “He is so friendly, and he is not a player who will talk a lot before a game, but he proves a real leader when we play.”
He continued, “We have had a lot of characters and big personalities in the team for many, many years. Kevin (De Bruyne) is a big personality, of course. Personality is when you are under pressure and how you compete – this is real leadership.
Guardiola also mentioned that De Bruyne leads by example, which sets the tone for the rest of the team to follow. Despite this praise for De Bruyne’s leadership qualities, Kyle Walker is likely to retain the captain’s armband in his next appearance for Manchester City, which could happen as soon as Monday night.
Manchester City is set to face Brentford next week, marking the beginning of a series of February matches that will see them compete in three different competitions.
This includes an FA Cup fifth round clash away to Luton Town and the return of UEFA Champions League action, in addition to their intense Premier League fixture list. The squad will be looking to solidify their credentials as trophy favorites across these competitions.
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