“We stopped training after 10 minutes or so.”
Kevin De Bruyne has revealed that Manchester City spent just 10 minutes preparing to face Manchester United before last weekend’s convincing 2-0 victory at Old Trafford.
Pep Guardiola’s men dominated the tie, boasting 67% possession and 16 shots – while United managed just five shots in the one-sided tie, with only one coming on target.
City were ahead in the seventh minute when Eric Bailly scored an own goal, before they doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time after Bernardo Silva’s clever finish at the back post.
The derby defeat to City came less than two weeks after the Red Devils’ embarrassing 5-0 loss at the hands of Liverpool, with United winning just two games in their last seven fixtures.
On Thursday, Sky Blues midfielder De Bruyne revealed that the reigning Premier League champions ended their pre-United training session after just 10 minutes. He told the MidMid podcat:
“The day before a game we usually train tactically, based on how the opponent play. Before United, Pep said: ‘We don’t know how they are going to play. We shall see’. And we stopped training after 10 minutes of so.”
Guardiola – who is usually meticulous in his preparation – typically uses the final session before games to work on how to approach the match from a tactical point of view.
Kevin De Bruyne in @MidMid Podcast: "The day before a game we usually train tactically, based on how the opponent play. Before United, Pep said: 'We don't know how they are going to play. We shall see'. And we stopped training after 10 minutes of so."
— Kristof Terreur (@kristofterreur) November 11, 2021
However, the Spaniard did not feel that it was necessary against United. It proved to be a wise move.
“The day before a game we usually train tactically, based on how the opponent plays,” De Bruyne told the MidMid podcast.
“But before United, Pep said: ‘We don’t know how they are going to play. We shall see’. And we stopped training after 10 minutes or so.”
The Belgium star also explained how the City boss ‘didn’t know’ whether the Red Devils would play with three at the back, like they had been doing in recent weeks.
He added: “Often Pep knows how the opponent is going to play. This time he didn’t know, so he didn’t know what to do.
“We have done what we always do, but he didn’t know beforehand if they would play with five at the back, or with four, or with a diamond in the middle, or with three upfront.”
The Red Devils – who are six points behind City – are next in action when they travel to Watford on November 20, whereas Guardiola’s men host Everton on November 21.
Related links:
WATCH: Liverpool BOTTLED the title race 🤬 | Who will win the Premier League?
RELATED ARTICLES
![Roy Keane delighted after finally answering question about Ireland legend in quiz](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/roy-keane-ireland.png?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![Roy Keane delighted after finally answering question about Ireland legend in quiz](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/roy-keane-ireland.png?height=116&width=116&cropped)
![James McClean involved in scuffle with Chelsea player during Wrexham friendly](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/James-Mc-Clean.png?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![James McClean involved in scuffle with Chelsea player during Wrexham friendly](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/James-Mc-Clean.png?height=116&width=116&cropped)
![Damien Duff ‘disgusted’ by Shels players after FAI Cup win](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/damien-duff-shelbourne.png?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![Damien Duff ‘disgusted’ by Shels players after FAI Cup win](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/damien-duff-shelbourne.png?height=116&width=116&cropped)
MORE FROM Sports Joe
![“It means a lot to me” – Rob Edwards story shows the true class of Jurgen Klopp](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/edwardsklopp.png?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![“It means a lot to me” – Rob Edwards story shows the true class of Jurgen Klopp](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/edwardsklopp.png?height=116&width=116&cropped)
![“I love nights like this” – Damien Duff gives surprise reaction after Shelbourne lose 3-0 to FC Zürich](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/duffman.png?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![“I love nights like this” – Damien Duff gives surprise reaction after Shelbourne lose 3-0 to FC Zürich](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/duffman.png?height=116&width=116&cropped)
![Graeme Souness slams Man United star for ‘throwing in the towel’](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/Untitled-design-2024-07-25T145951.362.png?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![Graeme Souness slams Man United star for ‘throwing in the towel’](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/Untitled-design-2024-07-25T145951.362.png?height=116&width=116&cropped)
![Premier League club bid for in-demand Ireland star Sammie Szmodics](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/sammie-szmodics.png?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![Premier League club bid for in-demand Ireland star Sammie Szmodics](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/sammie-szmodics.png?height=116&width=116&cropped)
![European Leagues to take legal action against FIFA over match calendar](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/Untitled-design-2024-07-23T113507.485.png?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![European Leagues to take legal action against FIFA over match calendar](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/Untitled-design-2024-07-23T113507.485.png?height=116&width=116&cropped)
![Pep Guardiola addresses Kevin De Bruyne’s future at Man City](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/Untitled-design-2024-07-23T103321.584.png?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![Pep Guardiola addresses Kevin De Bruyne’s future at Man City](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/Untitled-design-2024-07-23T103321.584.png?height=116&width=116&cropped)
![“It means a lot to me” – Rob Edwards story shows the true class of Jurgen Klopp](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/edwardsklopp.png?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![“It means a lot to me” – Rob Edwards story shows the true class of Jurgen Klopp](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/edwardsklopp.png?height=116&width=116&cropped)
![When are Irish athletes competing at the Olympics? Event details, times and more](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/ire.png?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![When are Irish athletes competing at the Olympics? Event details, times and more](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/ire.png?height=116&width=116&cropped)
![Opinion: Hugo Keenan endured a difficult year but will always be an Olympian](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/keenan.png?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![Opinion: Hugo Keenan endured a difficult year but will always be an Olympian](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/keenan.png?height=116&width=116&cropped)
![The SportsJOE Friday Pub Quiz: Week 81](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/Copy-of-Quiz-Feature-Image-17.png?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![The SportsJOE Friday Pub Quiz: Week 81](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/Copy-of-Quiz-Feature-Image-17.png?height=116&width=116&cropped)
![“I love nights like this” – Damien Duff gives surprise reaction after Shelbourne lose 3-0 to FC Zürich](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/duffman.png?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![“I love nights like this” – Damien Duff gives surprise reaction after Shelbourne lose 3-0 to FC Zürich](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/duffman.png?height=116&width=116&cropped)
![Graeme Souness slams Man United star for ‘throwing in the towel’](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/Untitled-design-2024-07-25T145951.362.png?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![Graeme Souness slams Man United star for ‘throwing in the towel’](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/Untitled-design-2024-07-25T145951.362.png?height=116&width=116&cropped)
MORE FROM Sports Joe
![Politicians criticise ‘thugs’ after sectarian graffiti appears ahead of All-Ireland final](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/armagh-sectarianism.png?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![Politicians criticise ‘thugs’ after sectarian graffiti appears ahead of All-Ireland final](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/armagh-sectarianism.png?height=116&width=116&cropped)
![Orange Order want to hold Armagh parade in Nationalist area during All-Ireland Final](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/armagh-orangemen.png?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![Orange Order want to hold Armagh parade in Nationalist area during All-Ireland Final](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/armagh-orangemen.png?height=116&width=116&cropped)
![Quiz: Name every county to have won an All-Ireland football final](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/gaa-final.png?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![Quiz: Name every county to have won an All-Ireland football final](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/gaa-final.png?height=116&width=116&cropped)
![‘He told me no.’ – GAA legend reveals he asked Roy Keane for a selfie at hurling final](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/roy-keane-1.png?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![‘He told me no.’ – GAA legend reveals he asked Roy Keane for a selfie at hurling final](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/roy-keane-1.png?height=116&width=116&cropped)
![Snoop Dogg to carry Olympic torch ahead of opening ceremony](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/snoop-dogg.jpg?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![Snoop Dogg to carry Olympic torch ahead of opening ceremony](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/snoop-dogg.jpg?height=116&width=116&cropped)
![Premier League club bid for in-demand Ireland star Sammie Szmodics](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/sammie-szmodics.png?height=225&width=450&cropped)
![Premier League club bid for in-demand Ireland star Sammie Szmodics](https://d1ur8kxvk6cuvz.cloudfront.net/uploads/2024/07/sammie-szmodics.png?height=116&width=116&cropped)