If Manchester City hoped their maiden Champions League final would be unforgettable, Kevin de Bruyne admitted his memories of a painful night are hazy.
De Bruyne captained City against Chelsea in Porto in May. Rather than ending with him lifting the trophy, his evening was curtailed with the Belgian suffering a fractured nose and eye socket when Antonio Rudiger crashed into him.
“There’s not a lot of memories,” the midfielder said. “I remember some chances in the first half and the [Chelsea] goal. After the collision I don't remember a lot. I don't remember how I got into the hospital on the night itself. I remember going back in the morning to the team hotel at 10am still with my City kit on.”
De Bruyne did an admirable job of remaining philosophical about the biggest game of his club career. “It is sport, it happens,” he reflected. “It's not the best thing that ever happened but you go on with it.”
His vagueness extended to a meeting with City chairman Khaldoon al-Mubarak the day after Chelsea’s 1-0 win. “I think he spoke to the team in the evening or the morning, I’ve no idea,” De Bruyne added. “He just said he was happy with what I contributed to the team and in the year.
“There was not a lot of people in a good mood, I felt strange at the time with everything that happened. It was night to hear that from the chairman because it was a big blow for everybody.”
Part of Al-Mubarak’s message was that City would be back challenging again for the trophy. De Bruyne is aware of the expectations outside the Etihad Stadium.
“People expect you to win the Champions League. Does it define your legacy?” he said. “For people outside, maybe. I'm happy with what we've done as a club for the last six years.”
They have made a mixed start to the new continental campaign, beating Leipzig 6-3 in a hugely entertaining opener before playing well but losing 2-0 to the 2020 finalists Paris Saint-Germain.
PSG 2 Manchester City 0: player ratings
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PSG RATINGS: Gianluigi Donnarumma 9 – Always quick off his line to clear danger. He made two good stops in the first half; first to deny Cancelo from the edge of the box, and again to stop Dias heading home at the back post. Made another vital stop with his feet in the second half to deny De Bruyne, and then again from Mahrez, twice. Getty Images -
Achraf Hakimi 8 – Did well to marshall Grealish and made a key header at the back post to deny the former Villa man from getting on the end of a set piece. Grealish was substituted, which tells you all need to know about who won this particular battle. EPA -
Marquinhos 8 – Went about his business quietly and efficiently and made more clearances than any other player in the first half. Looked strong in the air, and was a key player for the home side in Europe once again. Getty Images -
Presnel Kimpembe 7 – Was lucky not to concede a penalty in the first half when it looked as though he brought down Ruben Dias, but his defending was superb at times. Getty Images -
Nuno Mendes 6 – Struggled to contain Riyad Mahrez on occasion but improved in the second half. Looked impressive going forward. Getty Images -
Idrissa Gueye 7 – Superb. Was first to react when Neymar missed with a wild swing and thundered the ball into the top corner to give PSG the lead. It was his first goal in his 24th European tie. Disciplined performance in the heart of the midfield. Reuters -
Marco Verratti 8 – Showed some quick feet in tight areas to get himself out of trouble and showed his experience throughout. Worked tirelessly until he was substituted. EPA -
Ander Herrera 6 – Came close to scoring when Mbappe broke clear and pulled the ball back to him, but Ederson pushed his shot over the bar. Was stretched throughout but grafted well alongside Verratti. EPA -
Lionel Messi 8 – The home supporters made huge cries of anticipation every time he touched the ball. Dropped deep to collect the ball and worked it well from side to side. Scored his 27th goal against an English club in European competition when, after playing a one-two with Mbappe, he curled the ball into Ederson’s top corner. Classic Messi finish. Getty Images -
Kylian Mbappe 9 – Influential throughout. In the first goal, after having reached the byline, he cut the ball back for Neymar, for Gueye to score. The Frenchman was a constant menace, swapping wings and at the centre of everything PSG offered going forward. Played a one-two with Messi for the second. Getty Images -
Neymar 6 – Was perhaps the quieter of PSG’s attacking three but he had a glorious opportunity to double the advantage, but he could only fire wide when through on goal. Getty Images -
SUB: Georginio Wijnaldum (Verratti, 78) N/A – A like-for-like replacement and fresh legs when PSG needed them most, just after Verratti, back from injury, was carded. Getty -
SUB: Danilo (Gueye, 89) N/A – A late addition as Barca looked to close out the game. EPA -
MANCHESTER CITY RATINGS: Ederson 5 – Could do absolutely nothing to stop Gueye’s thunderbolt, or Messi’s curler, but he was on hand to palm over from Herrera. AFP -
Kyle Walker 7 – Couldn’t get more than a toe onto Mbappe’s cross to thwart the opening goal, but he then made a vital interception to deny Neymar from Messi’s needle-threaded through ball. Made another timely intervention when Neymar was clean through, doing just enough to put off the Brazilian. Getty Images -
Ruben Dias 7 – Came close to levelling when, after evading his marker, he headed towards goal at the back post. His effort was saved by Donnarumma. Getty Images -
Aymeric Laporte 6 – Was guilty of not closing down Mbappe on the right touchline when the Frenchman crossed for the opening goal. Getty Images -
Joao Cancelo 8 – Fed a teasing ball into the area that was cleared before it reached Bernardo Silva. Picked up a yellow card for scything down Mbappe. He came close with a shot from the edge of the area, but it was well saved by Donnarumma. EPA -
Bernardo Silva 6 – Should have done better when he reacted first to Sterling hitting the bar, but he somehow contrived to hit the bar again from close range with the goal seemingly gaping. EPA -
Rodri 7 – The Spaniard made a key interception to deny Messi when the Argentine threatened to weave his way into the City area. EPA -
Kevin de Bruyne 8 – Played an absolutely delicious ball with the outside of his boot that Sterling headed onto the bar. Came close to scoring himself when linking well with Mahrez, his run into the channel ending with a shot saved by Donnarumma. A constant source of teasing balls into dangerous areas, and needed a no.9 to get on the end of them. Getty Images) -
Riyad Mahrez 8 – Looked a menace on the right hand side. Seemed reluctant to cut in on his left foot and so continually attacked the byline. Made some nice passes into the channels, one of which fashioned a shooting chance for De Bruyne. Came close with two efforts that forced Donnarumma into saves low to his right. Getty Images -
Jack Grealish 5 – A frustrating evening for the England international. He was given little room to manoeuvre by Hakimi, nor little protection from the referee. Was hooked with 23 minutes left on the clock. EPA -
Raheem Sterling 7 – Was unlucky to hit the woodwork with a header and then again when he had the ball fired into his feet when unmarked in the area, but he couldn’t control it. Got the better of Kimpembe early in the second half but his shot couldn’t match his run. Getty Images -
SUB: Phil Foden (Grealish, 69) 5 – His first contribution was a stunning flick on the edge of his area to clear the ball. Getty Images -
SUB: Gabriel Jesus (Sterling, 78) N/A – His introduction seemed too little too late, with City having needed an out and out goalscorer to get on the end of De Bruyne’s balls throughout. EPA
They enter Tuesday's game with Club Brugge behind the Belgian champions, who have surprised by drawing with PSG and then beating RB Leipzig. “A top side,” said Pep Guardiola.
It should be a special night for De Bruyne. The former Genk player scored a hat-trick away at Brugge in 2011 but since his 2012 move to Chelsea his outings in his homeland have been confined to his country’s colours. “I'm excited to go back home,” he said. “It is the first time to play at home except with the national team since I left.”
De Bruyne had a delayed start to the season, playing 12 minutes at Tottenham before resting an ankle problem he sustained at Euro 2020. Now he has scored in his last two games and Guardiola feels he is getting closer to his best.
“Apart from the goals and the assists, it is the dynamic, the rhythm, the pace you get when you play regularly and Kevin needs to be fit,” he said. “It is how he attacks the space, how he moves and that is how he is getting better.”
The importance of match sharpness means De Bruyne understands the frustrations of Raheem Sterling, who has struggled for starts in the Premier League. “Some players need more rhythm and maybe Raz needs that more. I need that also,” he said.
Sterling faces more competition tonight as Guardiola faces a decision whether to pick Gabriel Jesus. The forward, plus goalkeeper Ederson, went straight to Belgium after playing in Brazil’s win over Uruguay on Friday, but it will also mean they do not need to quarantine when they return to England.
