Kevin de Bruyne: there is no better place for me than Manchester City

Belgian midfielder confident togetherness in squad will bring club more success

Manchester City's Kevin de Bruyne takes a shot during a pre-season friendly match at NRG Stadium, Houston against Club America. City won the math 2-1, with De Bruyne scoring both City goals. PA

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland acknowledges the crowd during their pre-season friendly against Club America on July 20, 2022 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. Haaland, who turned 22, was left on the bench and denied his City debut. AFP

Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne celebrates scoring their first goal with teammate Riyad Mahrez. PA

Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City celebrates after scoring hiss second goal. AFP

Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne celebrates scoring their first goal. PA

Manchester City's Erling Haaland looks on from the bench. AFP

Manchester City's Jack Grealish in action. PA

Alvaro Fidalgo of Club America is challenged by Julian Alvarez of Manchester City. AFP

Manchester City midfielder Jack Grealish, middle, has words with Club America goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa. AP Photo

Manchester City's Kalvin Phillips warms up. PA

Jack Grealish of Manchester City appeals for a foul. AFP

Club América's Pedro Aquino, top, falls onto Manchester City forward Julian Alvarez. AP Photo

Julian Alvarez of Manchester City runs with the ball. AFP

Kevin De Bruyne says the togetherness in the Manchester City squad is key to their continued success – and the major reason he is committed long-term to the club.

The English champions get their 2022/23 season under way on Saturday with the Community Shield against Liverpool before beginning the defence of their Premier League title next week away to West Ham United.

City are early favourites to secure a fifth top-flight crown in six years after a summer in which they have signed star striker Erling Haaland and midfielder Kalvin Phillips. Julian Alvarez, the highly promising young forward, has joined the squad following his loan at River Plate.

De Bruyne, though, remains one of the team’s standouts, and concluded last season by saying he was happy to remain at the club until his contract finishes in three years.

The Belgian international, 31, joined City in 2015 and has gone on to prove a bedrock in their dominance of English football.

On Thursday, manager Pep Guardiola said he believed De Bruyne to be the best central midfielder in the world.

De Bruyne, meanwhile, feels he is in the perfect environment to continue to improve – and that can only spell good news for City.

“This is where I want to be, this is my team,” De Bruyne told The National. “People will talk about individual performances and individual awards, but that doesn’t bring success.

“What brings success is the team and the players around you who push you to be better. There’s no better place for me than City. I’ve been here for seven years and together we’ve had so much success.

“I believe that together we can achieve even more, and I hope to continue that in the future with this club.”

Manchester City season ratings 2021/22

GOALKEEPERS: Ederson 8 - Won the coveted Premier League Golden Glove award after keeping 20 clean sheets this season. In a team full of pass masters, the Brazilian can hold his own against any of his outfield teammates. AP Photo

Zack Steffen 5 - Usually an able deputy but his mistake against Liverpool in the FA Cup semi-final cost City the chance of a league-and-cup double. EPA

DEFENDERS: Kyle Walker 8 - A one-man flank down City's right. Few posses the Englishman's pace and powers of recovery. His distribution has improved this campaign too. AFP

Ruben Dias 6 - Failed to match last season's achievements when he was named player of the season. Found himself in and out of the side. AFP

John Stones 7 - Showed his versatility by filling in at right-back on occasion and another solid season ends with a Premier League winner's medal. Getty Images

Nathan Ake 6 - A much-improved season though still struggling to nail down a first-team place. Always committed and gives his all. AFP

Oleksandr Zinchenko 7 - Emotional scenes at the Etihad as the Ukrainian draped his country's flag around the Premier League trophy. Underrated player who never grumbles about filling in at left-back despite being a midfielder by trade. Getty Images

Aymeric Laporte 8 - After playing second fiddle to Dias last season, the Spaniard has re-emerged as one of the best centre-backs in the league this term. Reuters

Joao Cancelo 9 - The Portuguese almost seems wasted at left-back, such is his passing ability and knack for supplying teammates during his forays forward. City's player of the season, for me. AFP

MIDFIELDERS: Ilkay Gundogan 8 - When it looked as though the title was lost on the final day, the German midfielder came off the bench to drag City over the line with two of the most important goals of his career. Another excellent campaign. AFP

Jack Grealish 6 - Hard to say the Englishman has justified his £100 million price tag, or that he has necessarily made City a better team. AFP

Rodri 8 - The Spanish metronome just keeps City ticking. Popped up with some crucial goals as City won a fourth Premier League title in five seasons. AFP

Kevin de Bruyne 9 - Another standout campaign from the brilliant Belgian. Fifteen-goals - including four in one match against Wolves - and eight assists despite missing eight league games. Will undoubtedly get a statue at the Etihad alongside Aguero, Kompany and Silva when he does call it a day. Getty Images

Bernardo Silva 8 - The one player Guardiola can give any assignment to - whether at the base, on the wing or as a False 9 - knowing he will excel in that role. Getty Images

Fernandinho 6 - Took Guardiola by surprise when he announced he will leave the club this summer. Second fiddle to Rodri now, but what a loyal servant the Brazilian has been. Getty Images

Phil Foden 8 - Few players have the poise and grace of Foden. One of those players that can run with ball full speed. An absolute nightmare for defenders. Getty Images

Cole Palmer 5 - No shame in finding minutes hard to come by with City's galaxy of midfield stars ahead of him. Getty Images

Raheem Sterling 7 - A bit of a mixed bag for the English forward. A healthy goal return of 13 in the league but has looked leggy, with perhaps tiredness a factor having helped England reach the Euro 2020 final last summer. Getty Images

Riyad Mahrez 7 - A hint of friction with his manager at times this season and has not always been first choice. Still contributed 11 league goals to City's victorious Premier League campaign. Getty Images

Gabriel Jesus 7 - With record-scorer Sergio Aguero departing last summer, the scene looked set for the Brazilian to establish himself as undisputed first choice. That didn't happen, but Jesus is a workhorse whom Guardiola seems to love. Half of his eight league goals came in a single match against Watford. Getty Images

MANAGER: Pep Guardiola 8 - Kept his troops focussed even when momentum looked to have shifted Liverpool's way. Will go down as one of the greatest managers in Premier League history. AP

Of course, aside from sustained domestic success, City will have sights sets this campaign on finally capturing the Uefa Champions League trophy. The club have come agonisingly close before, losing the 2020/21 final to Chelsea by a single goal.

Last season, City were knocked out of Europe’s premier club competition in the semi-finals by eventual winners Real Madrid.

To their credit, Guardiola’s side rebounded from the disappointment by winning three of their remaining four Premier League matches – the other was a come-from-behind 2-2 draw at West Ham - to seal the title in thrilling fashion on the final day.

“Of course, to win a title having come so close in another competition is special for us, but winning every Premier League title has been special,” De Bruyne said. “We had to work hard as a group to come back from that result in Madrid.

“We knew what we had to do, we knew we had to win our games and we managed to do that. Even against West Ham when we didn’t win, we came back from two goals down to get a result that helped carry us into the final day and I think that says a lot about our character.

“Of course, our aim is to keep improving, to challenge for the Champions League as well, and hopefully anyone who comes in this summer will push us closer to that.”

Manchester City salaries 2022/22

Kevin de Bruyne is the top earner at Manchester City, with a weekly wage of £400,000 ($542,000) according to capology.com. That's an annual salary of £20.8 million. AFP

New striker Erling Haaland gets £375,000 a week. AFP

Jack Grealish, £300,000 a week. Getty

John Stones, £250,000 a week. AFP

Rodri, £220,000 a week. Getty.

Ruben Dias, £160,000 a week. PA

Bernardo Silva, £150,000 a week. EPA

Ilkay Gundogan, £140,000 a week. Getty

Aymeric Laporte, £120,000 a week. AP

Riyad Mahrez, £120,000 a week. Getty

Kyle Walker, £110,000 a week. Getty

Nathan Ake, £92,308 a week. Getty

Joao Cancelo, £80,000 a week. Getty

Phil Foden, £65,000 a week. AFP

Ederson, £65,000 a week. Reuters

Scott Carson, £25,000 a week. PA

Cole Palmer, £13,462 a week. AFP

Kalvin Phillips, not released. Getty

Stefan Ortega, not released. PA

Julian Alvarez, not released. AFP