Manchester City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne reveals long-standing hamstring problem

<p>Kevin De Bruyne reveals he was playing through a hamstring niggle in the closing stages of the season after limping off in the Champions League final against Inter Milan.</p>

<p>De Bruyne was not on the field as City capped a stunning season by winning the Champions League on Saturday, having finally succumbed to a long-standing hamstring problem.</p>

<p>The inspirational Belgian playmaker was forced off after 35 minutes of a hard-fought final against Inter Milan in Istanbul, which City went on to win 1-0 with a 68th-minute strike from Rodri.</p>

<p>De Bruyne said: "I give everything for my team and the people in the club know that. I feel proud that I've been able to do what I did.</p>

<p>"It's a shame that it went the way it did for me here, but we go away winning the Champions League so there's nothing bad towards it.</p>

<p>"I felt all right this week, but I've been told for two months it was a risk - but, you know, you take it.</p>

<p>"I did what I had to do. Obviously I missed some games, but the games like Arsenal, Bayern (Munich) and (Real) Madrid I managed to do it.</p>

<p>"I had some personal things happen with my family on top of that and I managed that, but, here, the hamstring just snapped."</p>

<p>It was the second time De Bruyne had been forced off in a Champions League final after he suffered a bad facial injury in the loss to Chelsea two years ago.</p>

<p>Yet, after City came through, he did not want to dwell on his personal misfortune.</p>

<p>"I don't look at football that way," he said. "It is what it is.</p>

<p>"I felt the team was able to manage it and do their job. OK, the injury is never nice, but I was there for my team and did what I needed to do.</p>

<p>"I felt OK in the 35 minutes I played and I can't expect more from myself."</p>

<p>Victory fulfilled a long-held ambition for De Bruyne after enjoying considerable domestic success in his eight years at City.</p>

<p>He said: "I've basically been fighting all my career with my team to win this medal.</p>

<p>"I still don't think it defines my career - I know who I am as a football player and person and I am happy and proud of the person I am - but obviously you want to win."</p>

<p>Much has been made of what the victory could mean for City, both as a platform for the current team and for the status of the club as whole, but De Bruyne feels that is a matter for another day.</p>

<p>He said: "That's not something I'm really thinking about right now. The season is so long we should just enjoy this moment.</p>

<p>"We've had subdued parties up until now, but now we can really enjoy it for a couple of days, as we should.</p>

<p>"We've not lost one game in the Champions League this season so I think we deserve it."</p>

<p>The article <a href="https://www.planetsport.com/soccer/news/manchester-city-midfielder-kevin-bruyne-reveals-long-standing-hamstring-problem">Manchester City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne reveals long-standing hamstring problem </a> appeared first on Planetsport.com.</p>