The Belgian playmaker was back to his best at the Etihad against Spurs on Saturday and he showed exactly what Manchester City's midfield had been missing.
With De Bruyne injured for most of last season, Fernandinho was arguably City’s best midfielder last year. The Brazilian was crucial to how they played and provided the perfect foil for City’s back four.
Without De Bruyne, there wasn’t that same presence in the middle with Gundogan and Bernardo Silva.
On Saturday against Tottenham, De Bruyne was instrumental from start to finish. What was interesting though was where Pep Guardiola deployed him. The Spaniard has moved him around quite a bit over the years, playing him as a deep-lying midfielder and also in a more advanced attacking midfield role.
On Saturday, he was closer to a right-winger, as Aguero, Sterling and De Bruyne all pressed up on Tottenham's defence. This meant their 4-3-3 formation had Rodri playing in a holding role, with Gundogan and Bernando Silva either side.
While Bernando Silva last season would have usually taken up the right-wing position, having De Bruyne that far up the pitch meant he was always closer to the action.
(AP Photo/Rui Vieira)Advanced positions
The first goal came from the Belgian loitering outside the box as he sent in a magnificent cross to set up Raheem Sterling. The second goal saw him in a more advanced position as Bernando Silva slipped him through behind Danny Rose; then he did what any good right-winger would do, he got to the by-line and delivered a low driven cross straight to Aguero’s feet.
In terms of his stats so far this season he already has three assists after just two games. As the position map from Who Scored.com shows below, De Bruyne was the most advanced City player throughout the game and he was key to City retaining so much possession (55%).
He was often the one who initiated the press and he forced Tottenham’s full-back into making mistakes as well as making Hugo Lloris kick it long. This was crucial for City as it helped maintain their wave of attacks, especially in the first half, as on several occasions Lloris cleared it straight to a City midfielder.
Mobile attack
It’s well known that De Bruyne has great delivery and range of passing, but as we saw against Tottenham he can also be a mobile attacking threat when he has space in front of him.
He almost scored on Saturday when he got passed Rose again on the right and decided to shoot instead of pass. He consistently put the Spurs back four under pressure and was the most influential player on the pitch by a distance.
His pass completion rate so far this season is around 82% and in terms of big chances created he already has five. Over the two games, he has a total of 145 touches and 20 crosses. This just shows you how key he is to City’s attack.
Very few players are able to have such an impact on the game from multiple positions. Whether he is deployed in a deeper role or let roam free further up the pitch, he is a devastating midfielder that can wreak havoc on defences.
Shutting him down is easier said than done, but there is no doubt that he will be crucial to City’s success this season regardless of where he plays on the pitch.
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