Kevin De Bruyne defends Savinho amid struggle to score first Manchester City goal | OneFootball

Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne has expressed confidence in summer signing Savinho, despite the Brazilian’s ongoing struggle to score his first goal for the club.

After impressing early in the season, the 20-year-old has faced somewhat of a difficult period as he seeks to find the back of the net for the first time in a Manchester City shirt, having joined the club from ESTAC Troyes during the last summer market.

However, Kevin De Bruyne believes that the young winger’s early performances under Pep Guardiola have shown plenty of promise, and the wider team is fully supportive of the youngster as he looks to break his scoring duck.

Savinho joined City in the summer with high expectations, having impressed with his performances during a season-long loan deal with City Football Group side Girona in La Liga, earning himself his first senior caps for the Brazil national team.

However, settling into the pace of England can be a challenge for any player, and the pressure to score can often weigh heavily. De Bruyne, at the heart of City’s success, praised Savinho for his attitude and work ethic, acknowledging the frustration of searching for a first goal.

“He’s started really well. Obviously there’s moments where it becomes a little more difficult when you’re not scoring [your first goal], maybe he gets a little anxious about that. But he seems relaxed about it and he’s done a good job,” De Bruyne said.

“It’s not easy now in a moment where it gets a little more difficult for the team to help out. But especially in the beginning of the season, he’s doing really, really good.”

De Bruyne went on to emphasise that Savinho should not feel anxious about the lack of goals, pointing to his positive start and the support he has from his Manchester City teammates.

“I don’t think he should be anxious about anything, he started really well, and we’ll try to pick him up and help him score his first goal. Then we’ll see him score many, many more,” De Bruyne added.

The Belgian international’s comments highlight the importance of patience for young players adjusting to life in one of the most competitive leagues in the world, and Savinho’s contributions have been notable.

As the season progresses, the club will be hoping that Savinho can eventually find the back of the net and start adding goals to his already impressive work rate. For now, the young winger can take comfort in knowing that his teammates are fully behind him.