Monday, May 31, 2021
Final tears and broken bones
The agonizing drama of Kevin de Bruyne
By Tobias Nordmann
The suffering of Manchester City in the final of the Champions League against Chelsea is above all the suffering of Kevin de Bruyne. The key player in Josep Guardiola’s team is seriously injured and weeps bitter tears. After all, there is good news too.
Opinions about what happened on Saturday evening in Porto in minute 57 of the Champions League final between Manchester City and Chelsea are very far apart. Some write of a bad check like in American football, others of a rather insignificant duel. Well, one man probably doesn’t care much about the assessment of the situation: Kevin de Bruyne. Because what would he get if Antonio Rüdiger’s action was subsequently dismantled several times? Nothing. Especially not less pain. Neither physically nor mentally.
On Saturday evening in Porto, in minute 57, a hell of a lot of hopes were shattered by Manchester City. On the shoulder of Chelsea’s central defender Rüdiger. De Bruyne had crashed into it – his face swelled faster than anyone could watch. Faster than you could watch, a neat hematoma developed directly under the left eye. Although the captain of the “Skyblues” tried to shake off the action briefly, tried to forget the pain under the influence of plenty of adrenaline – in vain. In the 60th minute he left the field. In tears. He dropped the arms of a supervisor. He sank into the arms of coach Josep Guardiola. Minutes later he was sitting blankly on the bench with sad eyes.
He watched as his team tried in vain to give the final a decisive turn. How she tried to find an answer to the spectacular 0: 1 (42nd) by the German national player Kai Havertz. Well, but without their conductor, without their key player, without probably the best midfielder in the world, Manchester couldn’t think of anything. The surprisingly offensive line-up of coach Josep Guardiola, who once again did not trust himself in a decisive game and coached himself with a tactical experiment, did not ignite. Neither the pressing worked, nor was the dominance in own possession of the ball converted into dangerous actions. The captain also remained very inconspicuous.
City’s game is de Bruyne’s game
But de Bruyne is just de Bruyne. He is always able to give the game that one impulse. The impulse that turns everything. With an outstanding shooting technique. With his outstanding skills in building up the game and in preparation. How much he shapes the game of his team, he had shown in an impressive way, among other things in the quarterfinals. At Borussia Dortmund, the game of the Citizens was based on the paths of de Bruyne. If he cared about depth, Manchester was always dangerous. If he took care of the width, the team could not be separated from the ball. No matter where his teammates passed the passes on the field, they always had an eye for de Bruyne. When he started, the team triggered the action. A futile journey? No.
In the final, the 29-year-old played in the storm center. He can do that. But it’s not his best position. He is not as influential there as in the central midfield. The fact that Guardiola did without a real striker in his assault system was heavily criticized, especially in the English press. “The crazy conductor sees the Champions League dream crumbling,” wrote the Guardian. The “Independent” found: “A stunning Thomas Tuchel leaves Guardiola with all the questions.” Those questions revolved around the line-up after the game. Even Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel was surprised: “We expected Fernandinho to play. He chose a very offensive line-up.”
What would have been possible if de Bruye hadn’t been injured? Idle. For the Belgian, however, the final turned into a bit of a drama. For the second time he could have won the pot, but for the first time in a way that feels right and really good. Because when Chelsea in 2012 pissed off Bayern’s “final at home”, he was already a professional. But neither regular players nor in the squad. He wasn’t even in Munich at all. “I wasn’t there. I don’t think I was invited. I hardly remember it, if I’m honest,” said de Bruyne recently about his first triumph. Now he wanted to be the protagonist. And it was. But not because of the title, but because of his tears.
The day after the bitter defeat at Porto, it became known how painful the evening really was for de Bruyne. The playmaker suffered a broken eye socket and nose bone in the crashing collision with Rüdiger’s shoulder. “I’ve just come from the hospital. I’m doing quite well. Of course, I’m still disappointed,” wrote de Bruyne on Sunday on Twitter. “I’m really sorry for Kevin,” tweeted Rüdiger, also on Sunday: “That was of course not my intention – I have already contacted Kevin personally and I wish him a speedy recovery and hope that we can see him on the field again soon . ”
Possibly very soon, actually. At the upcoming European Championship. De Bruyne’s participation should not be at risk at the moment. After all. Belgium will initially face Russia on June 12th. Other opponents in Group B are Denmark on June 17th and Finland on June 21st. Against Germany – and then again against Rüdiger – it could already go in the round of 16.
.