IAN LADYMAN: It hurts after a harsh late penalty call earned PSG a 1-1 draw... but Newcastle are still alive in the group of death and are beginning to feel like they belong on the biggest stage

De Bruyne says too much was made of his time at Chelsea when he left, and too much was made when he returned to the Premier League a couple of years later with Manchester City. “When I came here people said, ‘Chelsea reject.’ No, I was just a young boy who didn’t play and was there for six months. I was really young.”

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Brazil 'could face a points DEDUCTION in World Cup qualifying or be forced to play in an empty stadium' with FIFA 'set to open investigation' He recovered well [after going off injured in the Champions League final] but now we've lost him again," Guardiola told Sky Sports. "It's time to reflect, to talk to the doctors about what happened with him. For many years, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were the undisputed two best players in the world. But things are changing. In August, De Bruyne was runner-up in the Uefa Men’s Player of the Year award, won by another oldie, Karim Benzema. How important is it to be regarded as one of the best in the world? The quiet, diffident De Bruyne looks at me with magnificent imperiousness. “It’s not important to be regarded as one of the best,” he says. “I want to be the best.” Are Mason, six, and Rome, almost four, promising footballers? “No,” he says. “They don’t play.” Are they not interested? “I don’t know,” he says, as if he’s never considered it. “They like to go to the football. My oldest plays piano a bit and likes to run. He’s a good runner.” De Bruyne, who turns 32 later this month, placed third in voting for the Ballon d'Or award for 2022, awarded in October to Karim Benzema with Sadio Mané in second place. It was his highest individual international honor.

He won the game against Chelsea [in January], he scored against [Real] Madrid and he has been decisive scoring goals and at the end this makes the greatest [players]. I’m very pleased for him because of course scoring four goals in the decisive part of the league is so important.After leaving the pitch in the 36th minute of Manchester City's Champions League final victory over Inter on Saturday, it has now been revealed that midfielder Kevin de Bruyne's injury is actually a hamstring tear, per The Telegraph. De Bruyne had been playing with a hamstring tear for the past two months while City chased Arsenal for the league title while also participating in Champions League. But against Inter, that hamstring finally snapped causing de Bruyne to need to be replaced by Phil Foden in the clash.

REVEALED: Pep Guardiola crowned football's most influential manager above Jurgen Klopp ahead of Man City's match against Liverpool Was that the case when you suggested your Genk teammates were not trying? De Bruyne pinkens. He often flushes like this – when he’s embarrassed, when he’s upset on the pitch and when he’s made one of his superhuman runs. “Yes! The problem is the fans like that and other people like that, but the team doesn’t.” It would never happen,” Lacroix says. “Give him one month, then he would be annoyed. When Covid started he was running around the sofa. I couldn’t cope with him at home.” I think my performances this season have been good and I am happy that I have been able to contribute with goals and assists throughout the season."De Bruyne, at 31, is at his peak. It’s hard to imagine him playing with such pace for much longer. Does he feel it’s getting tougher? De Bruyne limped off during the first half of City's 3-0 win over Burnley on Friday after suffering a recurrence of the problem which cut short his involvement in the Champions League final in June. There was some unrest at Turf Moor, with City teenager Rico Lewis hit by an object that was thrown from the stands in the first half. Klitschko demands Russia and Belarus athletes are BANNED from Paris 2024 as he condemns murders of 'over 250 Ukrainian athletes' during the war All ours are perfect for that Fancy dress party, works dinner, xmas party or just a night out on the town. All our Celebrity or Custom Party facemasks are water-resistant*