Over the past decade, few players have captured my admiration quite like Kevin De Bruyne.
In a football world that can sometimes feel mired in drama off the pitch, he has always stood out as a symbol of the pure artistry that football can offer.
De Bruyne’s vision has always been the highlight for me.
His ability to send perfectly weighted passes around defences, often leaving them scrambling in disbelief, is nothing short of spectacular.
Whether threading a ball through for Sergio Aguero, Gabriel Jesus, Erling Haaland, or any other City striker, those moments were magic.
The precision and skill with which he could pick out runs that nobody else could see set him apart as one of the best.
And then there are his goals. If you’ve ever watched a match with De Bruyne playing, you’ve witnessed some of the most beautiful strikes in modern football.
His long-range efforts, driven with both feet, often hit the net with such power that even the best goalkeepers are left helpless.
I found myself re-watching some of his iconic moments on Monday, including that thunderous strike past Kasper Schmeichel of Leicester and a 30-yard missile against Swansea that left Lukasz Fabianski rooted to the spot.
Gary Neville perfectly summed it up on Sky Sports: “That’s a world-class strike from a world-class player.”
For years, I considered Colin Bell as Manchester City’s greatest-ever player, mainly due to my childhood memories of watching him. But I have no doubt now that De Bruyne has surpassed him.
While David Silva was a genius in his own right, De Bruyne’s leadership and his role in City’s historic 2023 Champions League win cement his legacy as the greatest to ever wear the sky blue shirt.
The Difficult Reality of De Bruyne’s Decline
However, like all great players, time catches up with them eventually.
This season, there’s been a noticeable shift in De Bruyne’s performance.
Pep Guardiola’s comments about De Bruyne’s prime being in the past hit harder than expected, and the evidence is hard to ignore.
Injuries, age, and the sheer number of titles won seem to have taken their toll.
At 33, his decline has come quicker than anyone anticipated.
During their Champions League tie with Real Madrid, he was left out of the starting lineup for the second leg, and when City were struggling, Guardiola didn’t turn to him for help.
By Sunday, he started his first league game in a month, but it was clear: De Bruyne was no longer the player he once was.
The moment that stood out most came just before halftime in the match against Liverpool.
He received the ball at the edge of the box, and instead of his usual clinical strike, his shot sailed wide, nowhere near the target.
Watching him, it was clear that his body was no longer responding the way it used to.
It was a moment of sadness—one that reflected how the greats of the game are ultimately, and inevitably, pulled down by time.
Still, I wouldn’t have traded those magical moments with De Bruyne for anything.
Watching him play, especially in his prime, was a privilege I’ll always cherish.
The Rise of Sir Jim Ratcliffe as the Villain of English Football
In contrast to De Bruyne’s on-field heroics, another figure is becoming synonymous with controversy in English football: Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
The businessman, co-owner of Manchester United, is rapidly gaining a reputation as a “villain” in the sport.
Ratcliffe’s recent actions have drawn sharp criticism, especially his decision to back the struggling Erik ten Hag with £200 million this summer, only for the team to continue underperforming.
Now, the latest drama centers around his decision to close the staff canteen at Old Trafford.
While some of his actions may seem trivial, they highlight the bigger issue: the ongoing incompetence at the heart of the club’s operations.
For example, the £4 million pay-off to sacked sporting director Dan Ashworth is yet another example of poor decision-making and wasteful spending.
United’s financial struggles have become painfully apparent, yet Ratcliffe seems to be focusing on the wrong issues.
Closing the canteen may save a few pennies, but it won’t solve the club’s deeper structural problems.
A Hilarious Evening of Hammerschlagen at a Wedding
Switching gears, I found myself at a wedding in the Cotswolds recently, where I had the dubious pleasure of discovering yet another sport I’m terrible at—Hammerschlagen.
The game involves hammering nails into a wooden log, and while I was confident at first, it didn’t take long for me to realize I was out of my depth.
Despite a series of clumsy swings, I ended up with the only nail still sticking out of the wood, which meant I was off to the bar to buy a round of Baby Guinness shots for the group.
If you’re wondering, a Baby Guinness doesn’t actually contain any Guinness, but it’s an interesting little drink, nonetheless.
Despite my poor showing, it was an unforgettable night, and I’m now a little more familiar with the strange world of Hammerschlagen.
The evening was a reminder that sometimes, it’s the little, unexpected moments that offer the most fun. Even if you’re bad at them.