Football
Jonathan Smith, Manchester City correspondent 8y

Kevin De Bruyne: Manchester City are not scared of facing Barcelona

MANCHESTER -- Manchester City will travel to Barcelona without any fear, insists Kevin De Bruyne.

City have played Barca four times in the Champions League over the past three seasons, losing on each occasion.

Former Barca coach Pep Guardiola will return to the Camp Nou for the first time as City boss on the back of three games without a win following the 1-1 Premier League draw with Everton on Saturday.

But De Bruyne, 25, believes City are still playing well and says Guardiola will have them well prepared for the Group C clash.

"The trainer has his idea -- we do not know exactly but it can be very good," he told reporters. "We do not fear. The style of play is very dominant and we have not played badly [against Everton]. We just have not scored more, that's all."

De Bruyne was a surprise starter in the draw with Everton after coming back earlier than expected from a hamstring injury picked up earlier this month.

"I was just fit and wanted to play," De Bruyne said. "I was able to train last week. That crack has gone very quickly. That's a bit of my luck with injuries, I very quickly heal. I very quickly was able to do exercises and walk back. The first week I only trained with the physio, I just trained with the team after the free weekend.

"No [I didn't expect to play] because the coach is always changing and we never know for another half hour before the match. That's his way of putting everyone on their toes. Starting or not, it was important that I was fit.

"I would have preferred to play, but if it is not it is always nice to get away with the family. To stay in is not so nice because there is not so much to do, everybody's gone. But a weekend off always feels good. Especially mentally, to get away from football."

^ Back to Top ^