Kevin De Bruyne explains why Manchester City do NOT need ‘crisis talks’ during tough times | OneFootball

Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne has offered valuable insight into the mindset that has helped the club achieve sustained success under Pep Guardiola.

Despite a series of disappointing results in which Manchester City have failed to win in any of their last six matches, the Belgian midfielder remains confident that the team’s mentality and unity will help them navigate through any challenges.

The Premier League champions’ resilience has been a hallmark of their success under Pep Guardiola, with the squad rarely needing drastic interventions to reset their mindset, particularly during times of adversity.

Rather than dramatic crisis talks, vice-captain Kevin De Bruyne has explained that the team has built a culture of understanding and accountability, and as such does not need to hold urgent meetings about their form too frequently.

“I don’t feel like this team needs a lot of team talks. Probably we have about two real, real crisis meetings a year,” he said during a recent media conference.

“So even last year, the year before, there’s always been a point in time where we speak to the team and some people want to say, or what the expectations are, or what we need to do, or change. That’s I think normal.”

These kinds of meetings are part of a broader process of aligning the Manchester City squad’s expectations, and for De Bruyne, the team has already had these conversations earlier in the season meaning there is no need for another intervention at this stage.

“We already had a conversation but that was already way before,” he added. “I don’t think at this moment in time we need another one, I think people know what is happening at the moment.”

De Bruyne’s words emphasise a composed, level-headed approach to setbacks. Instead of overreacting when results don’t go their way, Manchester City’s mentality remains focused on long-term goals.

“You also have to accept that you lose five times in a row. It can happen. Even though it’s not happened to us in a long, long time, and people are good, accepting of the challenge, and we move on,” he said.

This pragmatic view on adversity is a testament to the maturity within the squad, where experienced players like De Bruyne play a pivotal role in maintaining morale. While a run of results is rare for a team of such stature, the squad understands setbacks are part of the game.

With their leadership and experience, De Bruyne and his teammates are well-placed to bounce back from recent disappointments. As City look ahead to their upcoming fixtures, they can rely on their strong mentality and clear sense of purpose to regain form and continue competing.

Manchester City travel to Liverpool on Sunday afternoon as they take on Arne Slot’s side hoping to secure their first victory in six matches, and also prevent the high-flying Merseyside club from extending their lead on the champions to 11 points.