Kevin De Bruyne is convinced he is still the player he always was – even if some people do not see it that way these days

The midfielder was on the pitch for just 11 minutes of Manchester City’s laboured erosion of Crystal Palace’s stubborn defences on Saturday, coming on for Bernardo Silva directly after Erling Haaland had scored the only goal of the game from a penalty.

De Bruyne’s reduction to a cameo followed an underwhelming display against Newcastle United and words from his manager suggesting he needed to go back to basics.

Could Pep Guardiola now be contemplating taking on RB Leipzig in tomorrow’s Champions League last-16 decider at the Etihad Stadium with the Belgian on the bench again?

De Bruyne conceded his manager had the right to do just that but flatly denied his magic powers were waning now he was a self-confessed “old man” at 31.

“Obviously people have a different standard for me to a lot of players,” he said. “People expect me to score every game and assist every game. I think I’ve been playing quite well. Maybe there have been fewer assists but I don’t think I’ve been creating less. I think I’m playing all right – maybe not the best I’ve ever played but it’s good.

“You know the stats – I’ve created the most in the league and have the most assists and I’ve not even played four or five games.

“For me, it is the same. I’ve been doing the same thing for eight years here and 15 years in professional football so I’m feeling fine.”

De Bruyne also made it clear he felt under no extra obligation to perform – and that if Guardiola had a different opinion that was fine as well.

“Whenever I go on the pitch I try to do what I do always,” he said. “I don’t feel that I necessarily have to do something different. I’m an old man in this game, I know how it is.

“You know what people are going to say outside but there’s no pressure. I play football because I like it, not because I have to.” 

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2023]