Champions League win would ‘change narrative’ around City, says De Bruyne

Manchester City’s midfielder Kevin De Bruyne trains in Manchester yesterday, on the eve of the Champions League semi-final second leg against Real Madrid. (AFP)

Kevin De Bruyne says winning the Champions League would “change the narrative” around Manchester City as they prepare for the second leg of their semi-final against Real Madrid. Pep Guardiola’s men go into today’s match in Spain with a 4-3 lead after a thrilling first leg, seeking to reach the final for the second consecutive season. City have been the dominant force in English football over the past decade but have never been crowned European champions despite the transformation of the club under their wealthy Abu Dhabi owners. Belgium international De Bruyne said winning the trophy would “change the perspective from outside” Premier League leaders City, who lost last year’s final to Chelsea. “As a player, you want to win the trophies and you want this one,” he said at a press conference. “I think the fact that we’ve been fighting for it for numerous years and been to the latter stages means we’ve been doing really well.” The 30-year-old added: “Obviously, it’s a cup competition and the quality is very high so it’s very, very difficult to win it and there are different circumstances that happen. But if you look back at the way we have performed, or I have performed with the team for seven years, we’ve done really well. But obviously we haven’t won it and I think winning it would change that little narrative.” Guardiola said his side would probably have to improve on their first-leg performance against the newly crowned Spanish champions to reach a likely final against Liverpool in Paris. “At the same time I would like to tell you one thing -- we could play much, much worse than we played and we could win, and not anyone can deny my assessment is right,” he said. “So nobody knows, football is unpredictable. Sometimes you get something you don’t deserve, sometimes you don’t get something maybe you deserve, for the effort, for many things.” City right back Kyle Walker is in contention to face Real Guardiola said, but centre back John Stones remains unavailable through injury. Walker has not played since coming off injured against Atletico Madrid in last month’s Champions League quarter-final, and Guardiola said he will make a late call on the 31-year-old’s fitness for the clash at the Santiago Bernabeu. Fellow England international Stones limped off in City’s 4-3 victory over Real at the Etihad Stadium last week and missed Saturday’s Premier League win at Leeds United. “Walker trained and he will travel. We will decide tomorrow. He is three weeks without training but happy he is back ... (Stones) is not fit,” Guardiola said.