Kevin De Bruyne Underlines His Status as One of Europe’s Finest in Man City Win

Pep Guardiola is revolutionising English football, and there must now be genuine concern among the rest of the Premier League about whether they can keep up.

Manchester City’s latest victory, a 4-0 battering of Bournemouth on Saturday that was even more comfortable than the scoreline suggests, saw them overwhelm their opponents with a masterclass in aggressive, attacking football. City dominated the ball, were more inventive in possession, and in Kevin de Bruyne, they had the best player on the pitch. It became clear soon after kick-off that Bournemouth had little chance of taking anything away from the game.

It’s now eight wins from eight, which represents the best start to a season in City’s history. Five of those have come in the Premier League, and they have established a lead over their rivals already. It’s all been done with remarkable ease, and not because their opponents have been poor, but because their performance level is currently so high. They’re the first top-flight club to win their first eight games of the season in all competitions since Chelsea in 2005.

“Numbers are numbers,” Guardiola said of the impressive statistics that underline the great start his side have made. “And the record will be another one when we beat it.”

Pep Guardiola is the 2nd manager to win his opening 5 PL games (other was Carlo Ancelotti who won his opening 6) #PL pic.twitter.com/uoJPT1i2dZ

— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) September 17, 2016

It’s remarkable how far City have come in such a short space of time under Guardiola’s watch. It shouldn’t be forgotten he inherited a squad that had struggled to a disappointing fourth-place finish last season, qualifying for the Champions League play-off round by the finest of margins ahead of a poor Manchester United side.

In the space of two-and-a-half months, the regression has been sharply reversed by a manager whose ideas and enthusiasm for football have reinvigorated the players. At times, their displays have been breathtaking, and there’s room for further improvement.

One of City’s best players last season was De Bruyne—but even he has found a new level under Guaridola. It’s perhaps no exaggeration to say he is the best player in the Premier League right now. The quality of his decision-making and the precision of his passing, which is almost always perfectly weighted, make him the most potent, well-rounded attacking force in the division.

There’s little he can’t do. …

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