(Reuters) - Manchester City playmaker Kevin De Bruyne is enjoying playing under manager Pep Guardiola and credits the Spaniard’s tactics for helping him thrive at the Premier League leaders.
The Belgian international notched seven league goals and nine assists in 2015 but since Guardiola’s arrival last July, De Bruyne’s impact has risen drastically, with the 26-year-old assisting 21 goals in 36 league games last season.
De Bruyne has provided nine assists and scored twice in 16 appearances across all competitions this campaign and the attacking midfielder praised his manager and the club’s successful transfers for improving the unbeaten side.
“Since Pep came to the club, he plays a style of football I like to play, so it makes it easy as a player,” De Bruyne told Sky Sports.
”I like it here, it is the perfect environment and since I came here there has been a lot of trust in me. I like the project they are doing from the moment I came here.
“There was an older team (when I first arrived), they did a lot of transfers, a lot of young people, they are building for the future... I am really happy here and I see myself being a long time here.”
De Bruyne, along with forwards Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus, has been instrumental in City’s storming start to the season, which has seen them open a five-point lead at the top of the standings and qualify from their Champions League group.
City host fifth-placed Arsenal on Sunday and De Bruyne has urged his team to extend their advantage and heap pressure on their rivals on a weekend when title contenders Manchester United and champions Chelsea face off at Stamford Bridge.
“It is a very important one again. We have Arsenal and United have Chelsea, so there are a lot of things that can happen again,” De Bruyne added.
”If we win that game, it means that somebody else is also going to lose points with Arsenal.
“So it puts pressure on the rest, it gives us a good advantage and it is always handy to have more points and to put pressure on the other people.”
Reporting by Aditi Prakash in Bengaluru; Editing by John O'Brien
