The Champions League starts again in the middle of this week, and before the match Manchester City officially announced that De Bruyne is out, but Aguero, Sterling, and Rodriguez are starting, in addition to two injured players who are back, they are Mendy and Fernandinho. However, this week's Champions League opponent is the weak Olympiacos, although the away game, but with Aguero playing still have a chance to break the door.
However, City's win rate in previous games where De Bruyne has missed out due to injury has been very low. Earlier this year statistics from Squawka showed that on two occasions when De Bruyne was absent in the Premier League, City lost and failed to score a single goal. In particular, De Bruyne was absent when City were doubled up after a 0-2 Manchester United away game. It's worth noting that the two Premier League matches in which De Bruyne was absent saw City lose back-to-back games, both by 0-2 scores, to Wolves and Manchester United.
Last round of the league Manchester City again lost to Tottenham, De Bruyne's strength has been sharply reduced, and there are professionals to point out the problems. City's poor performance in the league this season and David Silva's departure, De Bruyne's key reduction is also due to the departure of this teammate, the double nucleus into a single nucleus, so the encounter with Tottenham Hotspur encounter blocked after the defeat can not be reversed.
De Bruyne has always been an accurate passer, and has always been able to tear apart defenses to deliver assists or goals in some key games, but Tottenham effectively controlled De Bruyne's passing in this round of the tournament, and City's ability to deliver threatening passes diminished dramatically, so they were unable to turn the tide of defeat. This Thursday's Champions League match will also reveal whether De Bruyne is the most crucial, but the team's record in external battles this season is solid.
