Exclusive: ‘You Can’t Replace De Bruyne’ – Former Boss Horton Warns City Face Tough Road Ahead

Former Manchester City manager Brian Horton has no doubt the club will miss star midfielder Kevin De Bruyne next season.

But the ex-Blues boss is confident Pep Guardiola’s new-look side have enough star quality to challenge Liverpool for the Premier League crown.

Last season was City’s worst season for nine years as they finished third in the top-flight and failed to win a major trophy.

Guardiola’s side started the season by winning the FA Charity Shield, but there was little else to savour in an injury-ravaged season which saw the club fail to land silverware.

Long-serving midfielder De Bruyne, 34, left after a decade of loyal service which saw him win an incredible 16 trophies during his time at the Etihad Stadium.

Injuries to key players including Rhodri and John Stones, as well as a mysterious illness to playmaker Phil Foden, severely hampered the club’s quest for more success.

However, Guardiola has moved quickly to strengthen his squad this season with the arrival of a string of top talent.

NEW RECRUITS

Central midfielder Tijjani Reijnders joined from AC Milan, left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri signed from Wolves and winger Rayan Cherki also joined the club as the rebuild continues.

“Unfortunately, as a player, no matter how good you are, well you can’t go on for ever,” stressed Horton, speaking exclusively to SportsBoom.com. 

“You hit a stage where you think I can’t play at this level anymore. You know yourself whether you can or you can’t."

“Kevin De Bruyne is one of the best midfielders in the world, he was a fantastic servant."

“The quality and level of his performances will be missed. Some of his passing and his goals were just sublime."

“But for me one of things that impressed the most was the way he behaved and looked after himself."

“He’s a top professional, so good luck to him now because he’s earned it."

“It was a hard one for City because he was 33 and can you give him a one or two year contract?"

“Would he have taken one year? But who knows what would have been said between Kevin, his agent, the board and Pep."

“Saying that, how do you replace Foden the way he’s played last year. He had quite a hard time of it last season."

“Grealish was one of their best players when they won the Treble, but now Jack can’t get in the side."

“But that’s what happens at big clubs."

“They’ve lost the best holding midfielder in the world in Rodri last season. They lost him for the season. How do you replace him? What a top player, you can’t replace him."

OUT OF THIS WORLD

“But you can’t really criticise them though can you because their recruitment over the last few years has been absolutely out of this world."

“Just look back down the years, how you replace Fernandinho? How do you replace [Sergio] Aguero?"

“These boys are superstars aren’t they? They’re not just average players. They’re big players the club have had to replace."

“To replace them, is such a difficult task.”

City have dominated the Premier League in recent years having won six of the last seven Premier League crowns prior to Liverpool’s return to the top last term.

But Horton has seen the rival Reds and Arsenal grow in strength and knows it will be tougher and tougher to keep repeating the unprecedented the club have experienced the last seven years.

“I don’t think the Treble will probably be done again, but that’s why Pep’s so frustrated because they’ve won so much – and all of a sudden everybody expects you to repeat that success,” reflected Horton.

“But they’ll come good again, they’re too good not too and Pep is so driven to win more, which is great to see.”