KEVIN DE BRUYNE has admitted that Manchester City will ‘almost be failures’ if they lose the Champions League final to Chelsea.
Pep Guardiola’s side have had another stunning season, winning the Premier League at a canter and adding a fourth consecutive League Cup to their trophy cabinet.
But, ahead of their first ever Champions League final, De Bruyne knows what the ultimate success of their campaign will come down to.
The Belgian, 29, said: “As players, we understand the magnitude of the game.
“If you win, you’re a hero and if you lose, you’re almost a failure, even if you’re not a failure because getting to this stage is incredibly well done by the team and an individual.
“But if you don’t win, it will be something you don’t really want to experience.”
The City midfielder also believes that Guardiola’s ‘more relaxed’ attitude in the last few months has helped the team.
He added: “I guess the whole season we have done less technical training, had less meetings.
“The manager gave us a little more breathing space and, in the end, maybe he saw it was working and the team were responding well.
“I guess that is why he and everyone feels a little bit more relaxed.”
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De Bruyne and Co have trained at Porto’s Estadio Dragao, since touching down in Portugal.
And their 6,000 travelling fans are revelling in the 25 degree sunshine, as they prepare to watch their team’s first ever Champions League final.
Guardiola, meanwhile, is aiming to win his first CL title in ten years, since triumphing with Barcelona against Manchester United at Wembley in 2011.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk