The executioner of 2016 was him.
Scorer in the outward journey and in the return five years ago, during the quarter-final lost by PSG against Manchester City, Kevin De Bruyne finds the Parisian club this Wednesday evening, at the Parc des Princes.
Paris will have to watch him like milk on the fire, especially with De Bruyne at kickoff, the Citizens win, on average, 3 times out of 4 this season (75% of victories).
"I do not see what I can say more about Kevin, except that he has a huge influence," said Pep Guardiola Tuesday at a press conference.
De Bruyne is City's playing master (10 assists in the Premier League, 21 last season).
Recovered from a foot injury, he feels "ready to play against Paris," confirms Sam Lee, reporter for The Athletic.
Described as "creative and destructive" by the latter, the former player of Genk scores less this season (8 goals) than the previous one (16).
But it remains formidable.
Perhaps the most complete playmaker in the world.
"Kevin is boss size now," agrees former Belgian coach Marc Wilmots.
He is a leader who speaks on the ground, not too much outside.
He has matured.
He is without a doubt one of the best passer in the world, and one of the best players.
Because in addition to the technique it is a motor.
It can do 12-13 km without any problem.
"
"He makes things simple"
Dad of two boys (Rome and Mason Milia)
and a little girl (Suri), Kevin De Bruyne, from a modest family, has led a peaceful life since arriving in Manchester in 2015. He found the stability he sought after seeing Klaus Allofs hand him over. hand to Werder Bremen (2012-2013) then Wolfsburg (2014-2015), when he was deadlocked at Chelsea.
“He was the young talent from Belgium at the time.
He was not ready for the Premier League.
And I fell in love with it, admits the German leader.
Kevin can do everything, he never hides, he works, he is inventive, knows how to score goals.
Guardiola loves his style.
He saw him play with us in the Bundesliga.
Between the two, perhaps it was the ideal marriage.
"
The former Barça coach gave him the keys to the truck. Maybe because he reminds him of Andrés Iniesta. For Bob Browaeys, ex-trainer of “KDB”, there are similarities anyway: “Like Iniesta, Kevin makes things simple on the pitch. Everything seems easy with him. “Having become king in his country, like Lukaku, Hazard and Courtois, the 29-year-old dreams of being enthroned on the roof of Europe. That's good, the Euro is approaching for Belgium. But before, he would see himself winning the C1 with City. Paris will want to block him this time.
