Kevin De Bruyne made comments after Manchester City's 4-1 win over West Ham. Credit: Sky Sports YouTube
Kevin De Bruyne made comments after Manchester City's 4-1 win over West Ham. Credit: Sky Sports YouTube

Kevin De Bruyne absolutely delusional after Manchester City v West Ham comments

Harri Burton

Senior Correspondent AUTHORITY Senior football journalist specialising in refereeing and officiating; former contributor to The Football League Paper, Late Tackle, and the Premier League; University of Derby graduate. FOCUS Refereeing controversies, football finance and governance, PGMOL decisions, and officiating analysis across the Premier League, EFL, and SPFL. THE INSIGHT Harri utilises a network of officiating and industry contacts to deliver verified, expert analysis of refereeing decisions and PGMOL policy. He provides the regulatory clarity behind the controversy to ensure fans get the full picture.

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Julen Lopetegui has positives to take from the West Ham display against Manchester City despite what Kevin De Bruyne might have to say.

Of course, the Spaniard is under a mountain of pressure at the London Stadium, with the Hammers continuing to ship Premier League goals like a hobby.

With the 4-1 defeat to Pep Guardiola's out-of-form Citizens, Lopetegui's men have now conceded three or more goals on nine occasions in all competitions and are floundering in the bottom half of the table.

While supporters are full of emotion following the result, aiming most of their anger at the poor-performing players and, most of all, the head coach, there were positives.

Speaking to Sky Sports [4 January], De Bruyne said in an attack on his own fans: "The effort is there 100 per cent and we still won 4-1 so I don't understand what is happening. It is not like they created a lot of chances either so it is what it is."

The Belgian was clearly focused on other things as the Hammers actually had more shots than the current Premier League champions, beating them 17 to 10 [FotMob], though Man City were clearly more clinical.

West Ham United unfairly battered in Manchester City defeat

The Hammers were finally able to showcase their attacking prowess as Niclas Fullkrug slotted home Tomas Soucek's cross as a consolation in the 71st minute.

And it was actually the Czechia midfielder who should have put the visitors one goal up after nine minutes, but he miscued his effort and was duly punished for that.

Soucek had three efforts at goal while the likes of Crysencio Summerville, Lucas Paqueta and Mohammed Kudus totalled up 10 shots at Stefan Ortega's net [FotMob], and the latter definitely should have scored.

When it comes to the question of being clinical, of course, Man City were better, as shown by the scoreline. But if De Bruyne is trying to suggest that the result does not at all flatter them, he is being utterly delusional.

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