Manchester City’s Crisis Deepens: Kevin De Bruyne Labels Mood ‘Chaotic’ Amid Losing Streak
Manchester City find themselves in unfamiliar territory, reeling from a fifth consecutive defeat after a 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad Stadium. For Pep Guardiola, this marks an unprecedented blemish on his managerial record. Never before has the Spaniard endured such a run of losses, and with Feyenoord up next in the Champions League, the pressure to reverse the slide is immense.
The situation is unsettling for a club of City’s stature. While problems persist on multiple fronts, Kevin De Bruyne’s recent remarks shed light on the internal challenges faced by the squad.
De Bruyne on City’s Struggles: ‘It’s Chaotic’
Speaking ahead of the crucial Feyenoord clash, De Bruyne dismissed the notion of the team being in a “dark place,” a term recently used by teammate Bernardo Silva following their 4-1 Champions League defeat to Sporting CP. Instead, the Belgian described the current mood as “chaotic.”
De Bruyne elaborated:
“I wouldn’t say dark, I’d say it’s been a bit chaotic before. I’ve seen so many people pass around the medical area, sports science, who’s playing, not playing. There’s been people playing who shouldn’t be playing but played anyway with an injury.”
Reflecting on recent performances, De Bruyne added:
“These games with Sporting, Brighton, and Bournemouth were a bit all over the place. Before the Tottenham game, it seemed pretty much all right to me. Obviously, then we had the defeat, so we just had yesterday, which was a bit quiet. But then for the rest, I didn’t see too much change.”
Bernardo Silva’s Take on the Situation
After the loss to Sporting CP, Silva candidly admitted:
“Disappointing, we’re a bit in a dark place right now and everything looks to be going away even when we play well. We don’t score our chances. We concede too easily. So definitely we need to look inside and check what we’re not doing well, and start being better very quickly. Otherwise, it will be difficult to come back from these losses.”
City’s Creativity Crisis Without De Bruyne
City’s attacking struggles this season have been amplified by De Bruyne’s absence. Against Spurs, his creative influence was evident, outperforming the likes of Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva in getting the ball into dangerous areas.
Despite limited minutes this season, De Bruyne has been instrumental in the final third whenever he has featured. His return to full fitness comes at a crucial time for City.
De Bruyne’s 2024/25 Season So Far
- Appearances: 9
- Minutes Played: 441
- Goals: 1
- Assists: 1
After a long recovery from a complicated injury, De Bruyne appears ready to regain his rhythm. Speaking on his return, he noted:
“It’s been frustrating. Last year I knew I’d be out for five or six months, but this time I was testing myself to see if I’d be fit for the weekend after Inter [in September]. It’s taken a very, very long time. But I’m happy I’m getting better. I can see the positive.”
As Guardiola and his squad regroup, City fans will hope De Bruyne’s recovery sparks a turnaround, starting with Feyenoord on Tuesday.
