Manchester City: Kevin De Bruyne says Champions League triumph would mark perfect send-off for David Silva
Spaniard’s time at the Manchester club is coming to an end
Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
Kevin De Bruyne believes winning the Champions League would be the perfect Manchester City send-off for David Silva.
Veteran playmaker Silva is leaving City when their European campaign comes to an end. It resumes with the second leg of their much-delayed last-16 tie against Real Madrid on 7 August.
The 34-year-old made his final appearance in the Premier League – a competition he has won four times during an outstanding decade’s service to City – in Sunday’s 5-0 thrashing of relegated Norwich.
The continent’s elite club competition is the one major prize to have eluded the Spaniard in a glittering career that has also included World Cup and European Championship titles with Spain.
“For me he is one of the best players who has ever played in the Premier League,” said De Bruyne, who scored twice and notched a record-equalling assist in the campaign-ending rout of the Canaries.
“You can always debate who is [number] one, but when you play with him, you can appreciate what he does day-in, day-out. I have played with him for five years – a long time. We have won a lot together, we play well together. We complement each other really well in different ways.
“And he’s such a nice guy as well. He is going to be a big miss. It would be great if we could win the Champions League so it could end well for him.”
Gabriel Jesus opened the scoring against Norwich for the Premier League runners-up before De Bruyne curled in a stunning second. De Bruyne then set up Raheem Sterling for number three – his 20th assist of the season, matching the Premier League record of Thierry Henry – before wrapping up the scoring after Riyad Mahrez also struck.
De Bruyne, 29, said: “It is good to stay in the rhythm. There is no point slacking. We have to keep going full pace.
“Now we have got two weeks to prepare ourselves fully and we have got another final. We want to prepare ourselves the best possible to be ready for that game and hopefully we can play another four games this year.”
PA
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments