'They should support us' - Kevin De Bruyne does not understand Manchester City fans in Premier League win over West Ham
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Published 04/01/2025 at 18:56 GMT
Kevin De Bruyne helped Manchester City to their first back-to-back victories since the end of October. An emphatic 4-1 win over West Ham, in which Erling Haaland grabbed a brace, saw City move within 11 points of Premier League leaders Liverpool. But the Belgian playmaker was left bemused by the Etihad crowd's reaction when Niclas Fullkrug pulled one back for the visitors with 20 minutes to play.
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Kevin De Bruyne said he did not understand why the Manchester City crowd were muted during their 4-1 win over West Ham.
An own goal from Vladimir Coufal, a brace from Erling Haaland and Phil Foden’s second league goal of the season helped the hosts to back-to-back wins.
The last time the Premier League champions managed two wins in a row was at the end of October, and the home crowd seemingly expressed their anxiety when Niclas Fullkrug pulled a goal back for Julen Lopetegui’s side in the 71st minute.
De Bruyne was bemused by the response from some inside the Etihad, insisting that the players were showing clear endeavour for the entire match.
"I don't know why [the crowd were nervous]," De Bruyne told Sky Sports. "I can understand that we are not up to the level, but they should support us because the effort is there, and we are still winning 4-1.
"I don't understand what is happening. The team gave maximum effort. The level has to be higher, but we understand that."
The emphatic victory was the first time City had scored more than three goals in a Premier League fixture since beating Ipswich Town by the same scoreline in August.
And while De Bruyne did not claim that City were back to their best, the former Wolfsburg midfielder said he saw an improvement against West Ham compared to recent performances.
"It is a little step," said De Bruyne. "We understand a bit more what we have done in the last 10 years and how hard it is. At the moment we are a bit below that.
"We are working really hard and the team is coming back fitness wise. There were moments we played well, other moments less. It's a bit of an improvement, but we understand it still has to be better.
"You don't put yourself down too much. We have not been at this level this year. Everybody said, 'City are winning all the time, it must be easy.' It is not.
"We know it has been a tough season, but I think today was an improvement from the last game. Physically, we are starting to get better, so with playing games and winning we hopefully get some confidence, and it will get better," De Bruyne added to BBC Match of the Day.
De Bruyne is entering the last six months of his contract at the club he joined over nine years ago.
But despite the uncertainty surrounding the playmaker’s future, the Belgian insisted he was focused on delivering for City in the present.
"I don't care," answered De Bruyne when asked about the speculation over his future. "I am just trying to get back to my level. I feel every week I am getting better. I can run for 90 minutes now. It has been an uncomfortable couple of months with the injury."
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Guardiola: ‘We struggle, but it is a release’
City head coach Pep Guardiola agreed with De Bruyne’s assessment on City’s progression back to the heights they have reached in past seasons.
The 53-year-old called his side’s display "not at our standards" in spite of the healthy-looking scoreline.
"We won a game," Guardiola told Sky Sports. "Still we are not at our best, but winning will help us. We had good moments, but I’ve been here eight years, and we have seen the team playing, and it is not at our standards.
"Still, we have to find our tempo and the way we want to play."
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Guardiola added to BBC Match of the Day: "It is happier to win, but we are still not like we were for different reasons. The result will help. We struggle but it is a release."
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