For Kevin De Bruyne, the Champions League final ended prematurely. It is not the first time that an injury has stopped him in the final.
Istanbul – It was to be his big night: At the Champions League final between Manchester City and Inter Milan, playmaker Kevin De Bruyne wanted to crown his fantastic career at City and lead his team to the first Champions League victory in the club's history. But even before half-time, the Belgian's working day was over: he had to be replaced injured - and thus experienced a bitter déjà vu.
| Kevin De Bruyne | |
|---|---|
| Born: | 28 June 1991 (aged 31 years), Drongen, Belgium |
| Position: | Attacking midfielder |
| At Manchester City since: | 2015 |
| Market value: | 80 million euros (source: transfermarkt.de) |
Bitter drama: World star De Bruyne has to go out injured early in the Champions League final
The final against the Italians was just half an hour old when Kevin De Bruyne caused the first shock of the evening. With the score at 0-0, he suddenly sat down on the ground. The reason was an injury. As a result, the Skyblues medical staff treated him on the back right thigh.
De Bruyne then continued to play briefly and in the 35th minute struck an unusually inaccurate cross from the right. At this point at the latest, it was probably clear to most spectators that the Belgian was not running smoothly. He himself also indicated after this scene that it would not go on for him. Immediately afterwards, he walked off the field accompanied by striker Erling Haaland, who was still encouraging the visibly disappointed 31-year-old. De Bruyne was replaced by Phil Foden after 36 minutes.
For Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne, the Champions League final night against Inter Milan was particularly bitter. © Imago / Sportsphoto
Sad déjà vu for world-class footballer De Bruyne
For De Bruyne, this is a sad déjà vu: he had already had to leave the pitch injured and in tears in his first Champions League final with Manchester against Chelsea two years ago. This time he didn't cry, but he was visibly disappointed. TV cameras showed the 31-year-old watching the rest of the game in disbelief from the bench.
In the final of the 2021 premier class, the Belgian was stopped by a broken eye socket and nose. Particularly bitter at that time in Porto: From the bench he had to watch how the Blues around today's Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel won the trophy against De Bruynes City.
"I have a bit of goosebumps": Ballack shows sympathy for De Bruyne around Champions League final
TV pundit Michael Ballack, who was a co-commentator on DAZN, reacted emotionally to the fate of the Belgian playmaker: "I have a bit of goosebumps," said the "Capitano" immediately after De Bruyne's substitution. "Once again – that's bitter to the maximum," the former Chelsea star showed sympathy for the City strategist.
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He knows how the Belgian feels: In 2010, Ballack himself had to leave the field injured in the FA Cup final with the Londoners after a violent foul by Kevin-Prince Boateng (then Portsmouth FC), which is why he missed the World Cup in South Africa.
Video: World-class midfielder De Bruyne is substituted injured in CL final
De Bruyne has to get out early in the Champions League final: Mertesacker also sympathises with injured City star
Ballack's former national team colleague Per Mertesacker also spoke on ZDF. "That's just the way it is at the peak of the season, when you try to bring everything in," said the former Arsenal defender after the long season – the final was De Bruyne's 61st competitive game this season.
"That's a real shame for him," Mertesacker also found only regretful words. Mertesacker accompanied the game for the TV station alongside Claudia Neumann. The reporter caused discussions even before the kick-off of the final. (wuc)