Manchester City’s wizard Kevin de Bruyne has dropped a missive hint that the upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup could be the last of his career. De Bruyne, who will be representing Belgium for a third time at the tournament claims the ‘hectic schedule’ has him focused more on his club than country. The midfielder’s comments came after he helped his side to a 1-0 win over Leicester City in the Premier League in his sixth game for the club this month. The clash also put curtains to City’s busy October which saw them play 8 fixtures at an average of a game every 3 days.
The upcoming World Cup will be a first in the history which will be held in the middle of the footballing season, which means the players participating will have a little, or no rest since they will have to report back for club duties. Amidst such a tight calendar, Kevin de Bruyne has stressed on the fact that he needs to understand his body and is not thinking ‘too much’ about the global event next month.
Kevin de Bruyne has no special thoughts about the World Cup
Belgium have been touted as the favourites of every international tournament they have participated in, given their ‘Golden Generation’. A team with talents of Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku, Thibaut Courtois, Yannick Carrasco, Youri Tielemans and many more would certainly start as favourites at any tournament. However, this pool of players have experienced immense pressure as the country has failed to deliver any major trophy under their tenure.
De Bruyne was asked about whether he is thinking about the World Cup all the time with the pressure on their shoulders, the City midfielder rather sounded low and less than excited for it. The 31-year-old feels stacked club schedule hasn’t allowed him to give the World Cup a special thought and the fixtures in Qatar are just the ones which ‘follow these club games’. Talking in his post-match presser after the Leicester game, the midfielder who finished second on the Ballon d’Or podium this year said:
“To be fair I do not really think about it [the World Cup]. There is no point thinking about it. We [Man City] have four games left so we will try to play as well as possible and then after four games I will have to report for Belgium and go to Qatar. We don’t see it as a big thing coming up, it just follows these games.
“It is unknown. There is no point worrying about it or thinking about it. You take it as it comes and try and play as well as possible. We are not talking about it with team-mates. The schedule is too hectic. We had two away games quickly after each other.”
On being asked whether he is playing down the importance of the tournament, and will have a shot at the 2026 edition, Kevin de Bruyne responded:
“No, I don’t think [it’s a lesser event]. I am excited. It will be the third one and it is always special. These events are great as everyone is watching it. It is big but there is no point to stress about it. It is my third time, I understand what is coming and I cannot speak for someone else who will be there for the first time.
“My family are going over for the group stages. I am obviously 31 and I don’t know what will happen in four years. This is the first time my kids can come to the World Cup. That is why they are coming. It will be special, an event I don’t want them to miss. They are six four and two. The eldest two of them follow the football a bit but the daughter, not really, but she can go and enjoy the sun and play in the pool.”
It is not the first time De Bruyne has voiced his protest against the growing packed schedule, with clubs having to play a fixture every three days. The Premier League resumes on 26 December, one week after the world tournament ends on the 18th. However, De Bruyne’s City will still have to play two league games before the turn of the year in the space of five days.