Manchester City’s record signing Kevin De Bruyne has said he believes his versatility will prove crucial for his team this season and is confident Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to West Ham was just a blip.
The surprise defeat for the Premier League leaders ended their 100 per cent record and allowed city rivals Manchester United to cut their advantage to two points.
West Ham became the first team to score a league goal against City this term when Victor Moses struck after six minutes and they doubled their lead through Diafra Sakho before £55 million (Dh313.5m) man De Bruyne pulled a goal back.
The Belgian said he was still finding his feet and that he could only improve as a player surrounded by a stellar cast at City.
“I can only get better if I play with great players. This team has a lot of great players,” De Bruyne said. “I think when I know the team a bit better I will get even more of the ball
“I am adapting well to the team. It is just the beginning so I don’t feel any pressure. I just try to play my game”.
Team of the week: Man United's two-goal striker and a West Ham colossus make the cut
De Bruyne, who was mainly used in the No 10 role for his former club VfL Wolfsburg, said he was confident his ability to play across the forward line would add a different dimension to City’s fearsome attack.
“I can play the three positions. Obviously, even if I am on the No. 10 I change position so much,” he said. “I think you need to do that if you play against teams like West Ham who are defending with nine men.”
The home side laid siege to the West Ham goal for almost the entire second half on Saturday but were unable to break down the visitors’ defence and West Ham survived for their first away win at City since April 2003.
City, who were also beaten 2-1 at home by Juventus in the Champions League last week, face Sunderland in the League Cup on Tuesday before making the trip to North London to take on Tottenham Hotspur in the league on Saturday.
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Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League quarter-final (first-leg score):
Juventus (1) v Ajax (1), Tuesday, 11pm UAE
Match will be shown on BeIN Sports
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Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
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UFC Fight Night 2
1am – Early prelims
2am – Prelims
4am-7am – Main card
7:30am-9am – press cons
Ain Issa camp:
- Established in 2016
- Houses 13,309 people, 2,092 families, 62 per cent children
- Of the adult population, 49 per cent men, 51 per cent women (not including foreigners annexe)
- Most from Deir Ezzor and Raqqa
- 950 foreigners linked to ISIS and their families
- NGO Blumont runs camp management for the UN
- One of the nine official (UN recognised) camps in the region
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
PSA DUBAI WORLD SERIES FINALS LINE-UP
Men’s:
Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY)
Ali Farag (EGY)
Simon Rosner (GER)
Tarek Momen (EGY)
Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL)
Gregory Gaultier (FRA)
Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY)
Nick Matthew (ENG)
Women's:
Nour El Sherbini (EGY)
Raneem El Welily (EGY)
Nour El Tayeb (EGY)
Laura Massaro (ENG)
Joelle King (NZE)
Camille Serme (FRA)
Nouran Gohar (EGY)
Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG)
6 UNDERGROUND
Director: Michael Bay
Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Adria Arjona, Dave Franco
2.5 / 5 stars
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
