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The Hindu
25-05-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Kevin De Bruyne, the disruptive lynchpin in Guardiola's City machine
'The £60M reject' These were the words printed in large text on a British national daily tabloid ahead of Kevin De Bruyne's move to Manchester City in 2015 from Bundesliga side VfL Wolfsburg. His first stint in England with Jose Mourinho's Chelsea was a forgettable one. After signing with the Blues in 2012, he was sent off on loan to Werder Bremen for the season, before being kept as a benchwarmer in the 2013-14 campaign. He played only three games in the league before Mourinho told him that he was not part of his plans. A decade later, as the Belgian prepares to play his last Premier League game in light blue - against Fulham on Sunday - not only have the critics been proven wrong, but De Bruyne has emerged as one of the best, if not the best, midfielders to have graced the pitch. Arriving in Manchester as a 24-year-old, his quiet and reserved nature off the field was compensated by his impact and mastery on the ball. De Bruyne has played more than 31,000 minutes for City in 421 appearances in all competitions, bagging 108 goals and, more strikingly, 177 assists. From assisting the league title-winning goal against Aston Villa in the 2022-23 season to scoring a thunderbolt at the Santiago Bernabeu, and many more, De Bruyne has left an indelible mark. His contributions have been telling in the 16 trophies that City racked up during his stay, including six Premier League titles and a UEFA Champions League crown. Stepping onto English soil after winning the player of the year in Germany for his performances with Wolfsburg in the 2014-15 season, De Bruyne quickly became the apple of the City faithful's eyes. His ability to find a forward's run behind the defenders from anywhere on the pitch awed the players and viewers alike. Pep Guardiola's arrival in 2016 helped De Bruyne unlock new aspects of his game and transform himself into a more free-flowing box-to-box midfielder. While most players playing under Guardiola eventually fall into a system, De Bruyne's artistry was too good to be kept confined. Misplaced passes did not stop him from trying again and again, and every so often, he delivered a killer pass, which would end with the ball in the back of the net. He notched 19 goals and 41 assists in Guardiola's first two years and was key to City reaching 100 points in the 2017-18 season - an English top-flight record - while winning the first of his six league titles. 'One of the greatest midfielders ever to have played in this country, and I think with Manchester City, there is no doubt'Pep Guardiola on Kevin De Bruyne However, his personal best tally came during the 2019-20 season, recording 38 G/A. Despite conceding the English crown to Liverpool, he managed to provide 20 assists, drawing level with Thierry Henry's record-breaking tally set in 2002-03. 'He's an amazing player, it's just stupid what we are witnessing, and I hope people in football do realise that the boy is just not normal,' Henry declared at the time. Premier League all-time assist leaders Ryan Giggs – 162 (Manchester United) Kevin De Bruyne – 119 (Manchester City) Cesc Fàbregas – 111 (Arsenal, Chelsea) Wayne Rooney – 103 (Manchester United, Everton) Frank Lampard – 102 (West Ham, Chelsea, Manchester City) Dennis Bergkamp – 94 (Arsenal) David Silva – 93 (Manchester City) Steven Gerrard – 92 (Liverpool) James Milner – 89 (Leeds, Newcastle, Aston Villa, Manchester City, Liverpool) Mohamed Salah – 87 (Chelsea, Liverpool) The turn of the decade saw many of City's senior players like Vincent Kompany, David Silva, Fernandinho, and Sergio Aguero say goodbye to the club, leaving the Belgian to assume a greater leadership role. He oversaw some of the brightest periods in the club's history, including winning its maiden Champions League in the 2022-23 season to complete a historic treble, as well as becoming the first English team to win the league title four times in a row (2020-2024). While injuries sidelined him for the first half of the 2023-24 season, his return provided City with a much-needed boost in the title race against Arsenal. Despite playing only 18 of the 38 games in the league, he registered 10 assists, which ended up being the third-highest that season. It was during this time that De Bruyne overtook Cesc Fabregas to cement the second spot in the Premier League all-time assist list, with only Manchester United's Ryan Giggs above him. He will also leave with the best assist per match ratio - 0.41 - among all-time best midfielders in the Premier League's history. While De Bruyne would have hoped for another trophy to add to the cabinet in his farewell season, it was not just meant to be. Once again, injuries reduced his minutes on the pitch and affected his form. City's horrendous run of games midway through the season allowed Liverpool to run away with the league title, while it was dumped out of the Champions League by Real Madrid. It further fumbled in the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace earlier this month, suffering a shock 0-1 defeat in what was most probably De Bruyne's last chance at silverware with City. However, all is not lost as the Belgian is set to don the light blue jersey for the final game of the league season against Fulham, with just one point needed to secure a UCL spot next season. And, while it remains uncertain if he will feature in the revamped Club World Cup next month before choosing his next team, it is safe to say that De Bruyne's place in the sport's history has already been etched in gold. On top of that, his indication that he still has gas left in the tank gives hope that he will stick around Europe for the near future. Additionally, with the FIFA World Cup set to take place in North America next year, he could be swayed to stay in the top leagues to stay fit and keep his quest for an international trophy with Belgium alive. However, one thing is for certain: whatever his decision his, De Bruyne's accomplishments with City surely warrant him a place amongst the best in the world, and wherever he goes, the booming chants of 'Oooh Kevin De Bruyne' are sure to follow.
The National
21-05-2025
- Sport
- The National
Ex-Celtic star Moritz Jenz set for transfer as clubs keen
The centre-back is currently a VfL Wolfsburg but has been on loan with Bundesliga rivals Mainz for a season. He is contracted to Wolfsburg until 2027 but will reportedly be allowed to leave. Mainz have an option to buy as part of the loan deal but Fabrizio Romano is reporting neither that or a return to Die Wolfe is seen as an option for the 26-year-old. Instead, he would like to explore something new and that has alerted clubs in Italy. Romano said: "Moritz Jenz can leave this summer with several clubs keen especially from Serie A. "Regardless of Mainz triggering the buy option or returning to Wolfsburg, he's expected to try new chapter." Read more: Green Brigade share big Celtic Hampden display plans for Scottish Cup final 'I'm not a clown' - Ange Postecoglou fumes at reporter over Spurs legacy verdict Jenz joined Celtic on a season-long loan from Lorient for the 2022/23 campaign. He played just 19 times for the Hoops and was sent back to France half way through the season due to a lack of playing opportunities. Despite that, he was popular with the Celts support. Coincidentally, Brendan Rodgers may be in the market for a centre half with neither Auston Trusty or Liam Scales able to nail down a place to first pick Cameron Carter-Vickers. And supporters have been urging the Northern Irishman to consider bringing Jenz back. One said: "Bring him back too, a new chapter under BR." Another wrote: "Bring him home." Rodgers has already secured a return for one of his former players in Kieran Tierney, who will join from Arsenal this summer after signing a pre-contract earlier this year. After leaving Parkhead, Jenz headed for another loan with Schalke before signing for Wolfsburg permanently the following season. He was on the move again after just one year with the loan switch to Mainz.
USA Today
14-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
How to Watch Borussia Monchengladbach vs. VfL Wolfsburg: Live Stream, TV Channel, Start Time
How to Watch Borussia Monchengladbach vs. VfL Wolfsburg: Live Stream, TV Channel, Start Time | 5/17/2025 The 12th-place club in the Bundesliga, VfL Wolfsburg, visits 10th-place Borussia Monchengladbach on Saturday at 9:30 AM ET. The match will stream on ESPN+. Borussia Monchengladbach faced Bayern Munich away from home in its last game and fell short by a final score of 2-0. The Borussia Monchengladbach side fell short while outshot by four in the matchup, 15 to 11. VfL Wolfsburg drew against TSG Hoffenheim 2-2 at home in its most recent game on May 9, and was outshot 16 to 13. How to watch Borussia Monchengladbach vs. VfL Wolfsburg When: Saturday, May 17, 2025 at 9:30 AM ET Saturday, May 17, 2025 at 9:30 AM ET Where: Borussia-Park in Mönchengladbach, Germany Borussia-Park in Mönchengladbach, Germany Live Stream: ESPN+ Watch live sports and more without cable on ESPN+. Click here to watch Bundesliga action. Borussia Monchengladbach key players Tim Kleindienst has 16 goals and seven assists, a key contributor for Borussia Monchengladbach. Alassane Plea has 11 goals and four assists, another key player for Borussia Monchengladbach. With four goals and seven assists, Robin Hack is chipping in for Borussia Monchengladbach as well. With four goals and six assists, Franck Honorat is producing, too. VfL Wolfsburg key players Mohamed El Amine Amoura has 10 goals (on 49 shots, 1.6 per game) and eight assists for VfL Wolfsburg. Jonas Wind is another key player for VfL Wolfsburg, with nine goals and four assists. Maximilian Arnold has three goals and five assists. With three goals and four assists, Joakim Maehle is chipping in, too. To watch live sports and more without cable, head to ESPN+. Click here to watch Bundesliga action. Borussia Monchengladbach vs. VfL Wolfsburg match breakdown
The Star
11-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Soccer-Barcelona hammer Betis 9-0 to win sixth straight Liga F title
Soccer Football - Women's Champions League - Quarter Final - Second Leg - FC Barcelona v VfL Wolfsburg - Estadi Johan Cruyff, Barcelona, Spain - March 27, 2025 FC Barcelona's Claudia Pina celebrates scoring their fifth goal REUTERS/Bruna Casas (Reuters) -Barcelona wrapped up their sixth consecutive Liga F title in style with a 9-0 victory at Real Betis on Sunday, with Claudia Pina scoring a hat-trick and both Ewa Pajor and Alexia Putellas bagging a brace. Record 10-time champions Barcelona top the league table with 81 points from 29 matches for an unassailable six-point lead over rivals Real Madrid with just one game remaining in the season. The title follows a strong debut season for coach Pere Romeu, who replaced former manager Jonatan Giraldez after the Spaniard left Barcelona to take over American NWSL side Washington Spirit. Barcelona also remain on course for a quadruple after winning the Spanish Super Cup and reaching the finals of the Women's Champions League and Copa de la Reina, but their league record this season has been shy of their own lofty standards. The Catalan outfit have two losses from their 29 league games, more than in any of their past five campaigns - three of which have ended unbeaten. "This team works very hard to win titles. Everything comes from the start of the season, playing good games," Pina told DAZN. "I feel good, taking home the match ball is the least important thing, I always try to help the team as much as I can." Barcelona's win also relegated Betis to the second division. "It's a bit bittersweet. I give a lot of encouragement to Betis and I hope they return to the first division soon," Pina said. (Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru; editing by Clare Fallon)
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Hoffenheim grabs a point at Wolfsburg to almost guarantee Bundesliga status
Wolfsburg's Mohamed Amoura celebrates scoring during the Bundesliga soccer match between VfL Wolfsburg and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim at Volkswagen Arena, Wolfsburg, Germany, Friday May 9, 2025. (Swen Pförtner/dpa via AP) Hoffenheim's Pavel Kaderabek, center, celebrates scoring during the Bundesliga soccer match between VfL Wolfsburg and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim at Volkswagen Arena, Wolfsburg, Germany, Friday May 9, 2025. (Swen Pförtner/dpa via AP) Wolfsburg's Jonas Wind, middle celebrates scoring a goal during the Bundesliga soccer match between VfL Wolfsburg and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim at Volkswagen Arena in Wolfsburg, Germany, Friday May 9, 2025. (Swen Pförtner/dpa via AP) Wolfsburg's Jonas Wind, middle celebrates scoring a goal during the Bundesliga soccer match between VfL Wolfsburg and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim at Volkswagen Arena in Wolfsburg, Germany, Friday May 9, 2025. (Swen Pförtner/dpa via AP) Wolfsburg's Mohamed Amoura celebrates scoring during the Bundesliga soccer match between VfL Wolfsburg and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim at Volkswagen Arena, Wolfsburg, Germany, Friday May 9, 2025. (Swen Pförtner/dpa via AP) Hoffenheim's Pavel Kaderabek, center, celebrates scoring during the Bundesliga soccer match between VfL Wolfsburg and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim at Volkswagen Arena, Wolfsburg, Germany, Friday May 9, 2025. (Swen Pförtner/dpa via AP) Wolfsburg's Jonas Wind, middle celebrates scoring a goal during the Bundesliga soccer match between VfL Wolfsburg and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim at Volkswagen Arena in Wolfsburg, Germany, Friday May 9, 2025. (Swen Pförtner/dpa via AP) WOLFSBURG, Germany (AP) — Interim Wolfsburg coach Daniel Bauer watched his new charges take the lead after just 18 seconds on Friday but Hoffenheim twice came from behind to secure a 2-2 draw and a point that almost guarantees its top-flight survival. The result lifts Hoffenheim into 14th place in the 18-team Bundesliga with 32 points. Advertisement Heidenheim, which is third from bottom and currently occupying the relegation-playoff spot, has 26 points. It could draw level with Hoffenheim by winning its last two games — and Hoffenheim losing its final match — but Heidenheim has a worse goal difference. St. Pauli is 15th with 31 points and Holstein Kiel 17th with 25 points. Both teams have two matches to play. Last-placed Bochum is already relegated. Very fast own-goal Hoffenheim's point came despite going behind to an own-goal that was the fastest in Wolfsburg's Bundesliga history as Leo Østigård knocked Mohamed Amoura's cross-cum-shot into his own net. Advertisement It was the perfect start for Bauer, the 42-year-old reserve coach who replaced Ralph Hasenhüttl for the last two games of the season. However, Pavel Kadeřábek equalized with a fine volley after 34 minutes and although both teams scored late on – Jonas Wind putting Wolfsburg ahead after 82 minutes and Marius Bülter equalizing three minutes later – the result stayed the same. Wolfsburg is now winless in its last nine games and remains in 12th place with 40 points. ___ AP soccer:
