Manchester City’s De Bruyne urged to focus on ‘simple things’ amid dip in form

Kevin De Bruyne has long been one of the untouchables at Manchester City. City manager Pep Guardiola thinks De Bruyne — European football’s assist king — needs to focus on the “simple things” to get back to his best. “He has an incredible ability to make an assist, to score goals and see passes like no one else, but I always have belief they will increase and will get better when the simple things, like don’t lose the ball, the mobility, the incredible capacity to be active in the movement, to do it again better and better.” De Bruyne has still made 17 assists in 34 appearances for City this season, setting up more goals in the Premier League — 12 — than any other player. “I would say people are maybe more anticipating to his runs,” De Bruyne said of Haaland, who has a Premier League-high 28 goals this season — and 34 goals in 34 appearances in all competitions. I think he’s fine.” At 31, De Bruyne has said he is “an old man in this game” but doesn’t think it’s quite the time to adapt his style, potentially dropping deeper in midfield.