‘Determined’ City want to win everything this season, says De Bruyne

Kevin De Bruyne says Manchester City want to reassert their superiority by winning all four major trophies this season.

City finished last season with a whimper as they ended 18 points behind Premier League champions Liverpool and suffered a shock Champions League quarter-final defeat against Lyon.

They were also beaten in the FA Cup semi-finals by Arsenal with the League Cup final win against Aston Villa a rare highlight for Pep Guardiola’s side.

But City are determined to make amends this term and Belgian midfielder De Bruyne insists fresh goals have been set, including a clean sweep of the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup.

“I think the motivation doesn’t change if you win or you lose,” De Bruyne said after impressing in City’s 3-1 win at Wolves on Monday.

“When you start a new season there are new aspirations, you want to win the most as possible and we want to win everything.

“For us, all four (trophies) is in the mind, that’s the mentality. It is obviously very hard but we went into Monday knowing that it was going to be a very hard game.

“We didn’t train a lot but I think the performance was really good and that’s good for us.” City are back in action on Thursday when they host Bournemouth in the League Cup third round.

That is followed by the visit of Leicester in the Premier League on Sunday and De Bruyne admits it is a hectic start to the season.

“We knew when we saw the schedule, when we started, that it is tough, but we always go,” he said.

“We play game by game and the best team that is ready to play on Thursday will try and win the game.” City will need an improved defence to overhaul Liverpool after some sloppy displays at the back last season.

De Bruyne felt Netherlands defender Nathan Ake acquitted himself well on his City debut against Wolves after joining from Bournemouth.

“I think he is doing really well. It is really hard for a player to come in and not really have a pre-season and settle in with the guys, because there is a lot of stuff you need to do,” De Bruyne said.

“But he played a brilliant game, together with John (Stones), and I think it is really important for them to start really well, and you see that when they have a lot of confidence, they can be very important players.” The PFA Player of the Year admitted it was strange to not have David Silva alongside him but says there is so much quality in the squad that everyone has something different to offer.

“Whoever plays in place of David will do their thing,” the Belgian added.

“Everyone has to play with their own quality. David is the master of tight spaces, but in Phil, Bernardo, Riyad and Raheem, we have players who can do the job. But obviously he is a big miss.

“We have so many attacking players, I can slot them in and they can do the rest depending on the formation of our opponents.” And asked whether he could emulate last season’s assist tally and go one better this year, he added: “To be honest I don’t know. It’s hard. I would prefer to have five goals and five assists and go away with the title.

“These days a lot is about statistics, but I try and do my best for team.

“If you have good numbers, it helps the team. But even if I play badly, I have to try and contribute one way or another and that’s’ what I try to so.”

Agence France-Presse