Kevin De Bruyne acknowledges Phil Foden as a ‘superstar’ who has elevated the standard at Manchester City.

In a recent interview, Kevin De Bruyne, the talented midfielder for Manchester City, heaped praise on his teammate Phil Foden. De Bruyne commended Foden for his exceptional performance in their previous match against Aston Villa, where he scored a remarkable hat-trick. The Belgian international, who was left on the bench during that game, returned to the pitch in their victory against Crystal Palace and scored his 99th and 100th goals for the club with two stunning efforts. Foden, on the other hand, remained an unused substitute.

Speaking after the match, De Bruyne expressed his admiration for Foden and acknowledged the impact he has on the team. He stated, “These guys keep me on my toes, I don’t expect to just be given my place. Phil has been amazing this season so he deserves it and it keeps me on my toes to give me that little push.” De Bruyne has taken Foden under his wing since the young midfielder made his debut in 2017 and believes he has developed into an “established superstar” within the team.

Looking ahead, Manchester City will face Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals. De Bruyne hinted that winning back-to-back titles in Europe is a greater priority for him than securing four consecutive Premier League titles, a feat that has never been achieved before. When asked about his preference, De Bruyne admitted, “I don’t really know, it’s hard to choose. Maybe the Champions League. It’s hard to say, but I’ll take any.”

Fans can catch the Real Madrid v Manchester City match live on TNT Sports 2, with coverage starting at 19:00 UK time on Tuesday, April 9. TNT Sports is available on various TV platforms, including discovery+, BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media. To find local establishments showing TNT Sports, fans can use the Pub Finder tool.