In the aftermath of last night’s ceremony, there’s been plenty of acknowledgement for the Belgian’s talents and his level of performance this season.
Gary Neville discussed just that and paid De Bruyne the ultimate compliment with a comparison to a genuine City great on his Sky Sports podcast.
He said: “He’s equally important to this team now as David Silva, and that’s saying something because Silva is a sensational player.
“Jamie Redknapp said Xavi and Andres Iniesta were the best two he’d seen in those forward midfield positions, and you’d have to agree with that, they were the best I’d ever seen, the Barcelona team under Pep Guardiola.
“But Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva are comparable, and that’s saying something, because these are really top players.
They don’t waste the ball, they have the intelligence, understanding, it’s really, really high level.
Over at the Manchester Evening News, James Robson has declared our midfield maestro has established himself at world football’s top table.
Writes Robson: “Kevin De Bruyne may have been overlooked for the PFA Player of the Year award - but this was the season when the Belgian truly joined the elite of world football.
“Only Mo Salah’s incredible goal-scoring feats for Liverpool denied De Bruyne the honour.
“In any other season the race wouldn’t have even been close.
“But De Bruyne has entered the echelons of the current greats of the game - and his stunning long-range strike against Swansea was a reminder of that.”
Meanwhile, player turned pundit, Martin Keown, credits City’s No.17 for being conductor in chief of Pep Guardiola’s champion side.
Writing in his Daily Mail column, he said: “Every team needs that player in midfield who will boss the game, develop the play and create the chances for the goalscorers.
“City would not be dominating in the Premier League without De Bruyne’s vision and desire to take the game to the opposition. Every game he serves up a dazzling array of balls for strikers to finish.”
Following Sunday afternoon’s 5-0 win, Swansea boss Carlos Carvalhal declared City are not of this world.
He told BBC Sport: “It was a difficult game for us.
“They had just lost one home game against Manchester United. They are champions; they are a team from another planet.”
To women’s football now, and our defence have been commended for its showing against Lyon in the Champions League semi-final.
The Guardian‘s Louise Taylor explains: “Manager Nick Cushing recalled Karen Bardsley and was rewarded as the England goalkeeper kept a clean sheet climaxing in a superb 90th save to thwart Amandine Henry.
“Bardsley made several other important stops but was well-supported by her defence whose defiance was highlighted by key clearances from Demi Stokes and Jen Beattie as Lyon pressed for a winner.”
