Manchester City’s success under Pep Guardiola is not fully-appreciated insists Kevin De Bruyne | OneFootball

Kevin De Bruyne has insisted that he believes the success achieved by Manchester City under Pep Guardiola is not fully-appreciated.

The Belgium international has been a long-standing integral component of Manchester City’s unrelenting success particularly under Pep Guardiola since the Catalan’s arrival at the Etihad Stadium in the summer of 2016.

Winning numerous Premier League titles, including a back-to-back triumph before winning four of the same honour in a row, Kevin De Bruyne and his Manchester City teammates have largely altered the perception and standards required to become champions of England.

But amid a difficult campaign for the club across competitions in which form and results over November and December have largely derailed their chances of silverware success in the Premier League in particular, De Bruyne has recently been in a reflective mood.

Speaking during a recent interview with ESPN Brasil, the 33-year-old was asked whether he believes lovers of football completely realise the extent of Manchester City’s success under Pep Guardiola, to which he responded, “No, I think that will come.”

The Manchester City went on to explain, “Maybe if we have this conversation in 20 years, then people look about it differently, because we have time to reflect and look at other things that have happened. I think now people saw us and they see City and they say: ‘They have to win.’

“But it’s not that easy to do it, and maybe sometimes as a player, also, you forget, you think: ‘Oh, we’re going to win.’ No, you work hard, and you have to do your job.

“But sometimes it’s hard to appreciate in the moment, because you have to go again and go again, you don’t have time to also enjoy the moments, you have to just do your job.”

Manchester City enduring one of their most difficult campaigns under manager Pep Guardiola at a time when many within the club believe that the existing playing squad is in need of a major refresh given the ageing nature of the roster.

Asked whether this is the most surprising campaign of his time at the Etihad Stadium, Kevin De Bruyne said, “No, not really. Well, I think people expect us to win every year, so that’s why probably they’re surprised, but I don’t know.”

“I think sometimes you have to go through hard moments. We had other seasons that were hard when you don’t win, but it’s okay. This is life, you can not always have top, top moments, you have to go through different periods, and we are getting through it.”

Manchester City have two final chances of silverware aside from a faltering Premier League campaign this season, but find themselves on the verge of a UEFA Champions League exit trailing Real Madrid 3-2 heading into a last-16 play-off second-leg tie this week.

The FA Cup is widely regarded as City’s best opportunity to bring some success to a challenging campaign, as they progressed beyond Salford City and Leyton Orient in the third and fourth rounds respectively to line-up a fifth round meeting with Plymouth Argyle.