i think he can, just not every week (especially away from home). he's unfortunately in that group of players who come to the Premier League from the continent and can't quite adjust to the intense schedule long-term. Germany have a winter break, fewer league games, and i think i'm right in saying that Germany only has one major cup competition. also, when you're at a team like Wolfsburg all your competition gets sold off to the mid-table clubs in England. it's more relaxed.
clearly the guy is talented - he's already contributed to 24 goals this season in 30 games (11 goals, 13 assists) which is absolutely astounding for a debut season. i'd argue that he carried us through October. but we need to take care of him, like using our squad intelligently when we're on the road. admittedly he may have had increased rest time if Nasri was fit, but starting him in every away game when he's clearly struggling is poor man management from Pellegrini.
he did this with Negredo and it killed him off. we were 6-0 up from the first leg in the League Cup semi-final in 2014 but he still insisted on playing Negredo in the second game, during which he picked up a shoulder injury that turned into a back injury and he's never been the same since. De Bruyne has time on his side and I think, with Pep hopefully in charge next year, he'll become more important than Silva has been in terms of the rise of this club.
but as far as the next few months are concerned, Pellegrini has to manage him a little better than he has been doing so far. an overwhelming majority of De Bruyne's best games have come at the Etihad which is no surprise (Aguero was the same in his first season) because we play on the front foot and that really plays to his strengths. maybe Pellegrini should just let him watch a few away games just to see how we operate differently on the road rather than leaving us a man short in some games because he's not adjusted properly?
clearly the guy is talented - he's already contributed to 24 goals this season in 30 games (11 goals, 13 assists) which is absolutely astounding for a debut season. i'd argue that he carried us through October. but we need to take care of him, like using our squad intelligently when we're on the road. admittedly he may have had increased rest time if Nasri was fit, but starting him in every away game when he's clearly struggling is poor man management from Pellegrini.
he did this with Negredo and it killed him off. we were 6-0 up from the first leg in the League Cup semi-final in 2014 but he still insisted on playing Negredo in the second game, during which he picked up a shoulder injury that turned into a back injury and he's never been the same since. De Bruyne has time on his side and I think, with Pep hopefully in charge next year, he'll become more important than Silva has been in terms of the rise of this club.
but as far as the next few months are concerned, Pellegrini has to manage him a little better than he has been doing so far. an overwhelming majority of De Bruyne's best games have come at the Etihad which is no surprise (Aguero was the same in his first season) because we play on the front foot and that really plays to his strengths. maybe Pellegrini should just let him watch a few away games just to see how we operate differently on the road rather than leaving us a man short in some games because he's not adjusted properly?
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