- Richard Dunne has identified two star players who could help with Man City’s problems
- Pep Guardiola’s side have won just one of their last ten games in all competitions
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Man City legend Richard Dunne believes their fortunes depend on the performances of two superstars.
Once the all-conquering behemoth of English football, Pep Guardiola’s side have recorded just one win in their last 10 outings – after winning their fourth consecutive Premier League title last season.
Their title hopes have diminished this season as they sit fifth, nine points behind leaders Liverpool.
Meanwhile, they are likely to struggle to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League, languishing in 22nd place, with just one point safe from missing out on the round of 16 play-offs .
Dunne argued that City’s hopes of winning silverware for an eighth season in a row rest on the form and fitness of Kevin De Bruyne and Jack Grealish.
‘Kevin De Bruyne is extremely important. He has been the best player in the Premier League for the last ten years,” he told BestBettingSites.
Richard Dunne believes Man City need Kevin De Bruyne and Jack Grealish back to their best
Pep Guardiola has won one of his last 10 games in all competitions with City – a historic slump
His side won the record-breaking Premier League title for the fourth consecutive time last season
‘The team hasn’t played that well, they’re not that creative without him. I’m sure the reason Kevin hasn’t started as many games recently is because the manager doesn’t want to lose him again in the long term.
‘We all know what a difference attacking and sacking Kevin De Bruyne can make, so it’s important for City that they keep him fit for the rest of the season.’
De Bruyne has been struggling with recurring injury problems since the start of the 2023/24 season; since August 2023, the Belgian has missed 190 days of action due to injuries.
Meanwhile, Jack Grealish, a £100million signing, has not scored for City since December 16, 2023 against Crystal Palace, almost exactly a year ago.
Nevertheless, Dunne believes the Englishman can rediscover his form if his confidence is restored by Guardiola.
‘Yeah, it’s almost like you’d like to see more of the old Jack Grealish every now and then. There is no doubt he has improved as a player since joining Man City,” Dunne added.
“When he’s in shape and confident, it’s so hard to stop him. He’s just got to try and get that back somehow and obviously hard work and getting a bit of love from his manager will go a long way in helping him get back to that level.”