Pep Guardiola believes a fit-again Kevin De Bruyne could give Manchester City an extra edge for the remainder of the season. De Bruyne played a starring role on his latest return from injury as City thrashed Rotherham 7-0 in the third round of the FA Cup at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
The Belgium playmaker has had two lengthy lay-offs with knee injuries this season while he missed City’s previous two games with a muscular problem.
Guardiola hopes the 27-year-old can play an influential role as City bid to chase down Liverpool in the Premier League title race.
The City manager said: “I said many times how important Kevin is for us. Without him, last season would maybe not have been possible. “So far we have done incredible in terms of results, but we have an opponent (Liverpool) that has done better. Fifty points is incredible, it is huge. “But they are an opponent that has done better than us without him. “Now he is back he will be fresh in the mind and the legs, and is going to help give us extra in the creativity in the last third, in the fight. Today he was our captain and he showed us why.”
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City brushed aside their Championship opponents. Raheem Sterling, Phil Foden and a Semi Ajayi own goal put the hosts into a comfortable half-time lead before further efforts from Gabriel Jesus, Riyad Mahrez, Nicolas Otamendi and Leroy Sane completed the rout. “We took (it) seriously,” said Guardiola. “We do what we have to do to become a great, great club. “The great clubs don’t choose competitions, don’t choose games. Every game you have to do your job and we did amazingly again.”
