Cheltenham Town manager Michael Duff named Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne as the one Premier League player he would sign if the chance arose.
Speaking before the two sides were drawn against each other in the FA Cup fourth round, Duff said “It’s an easy one for me, he (De Bruyne) does everything well. He scores goals, he creates goals, he’s the perfect midfielder. He can also run and he’s six foot, a good player”.
The Robbins face Pep Guariola’s side on Saturday in possibly their biggest ever game. Michael Duff isn’t a stranger to facing the sky-blue Manchester outfit though.
As a Burnley player Duff faced City five times, winning just once. He should expect to face a much tougher side this weekend though.
14 March, 2015, Turf Moor
Nearly six years ago, George Boyd’s goal condemned Manuel Pellegrini’s Manchester City a shock defeat at Turf Moor. Although not the most significant moment of the day, a certain Michael Duff was also booked. This yellow card, swiftly brandished 10 minutes after the only goal of the game was Duff’s final act against City in his career.
On that day, Burnley’s unlikely victory almost secured the league title going to Stamford Bridge after spending four years between the red and blue half of Manchester. Since then, City have won two more league titles including a mammoth 198 points across two seasons.
Whilst it’s unlikely that Duff will feel the full force of City’s power this weekend, it will be a huge step up from their usual League two opposition.
Comparing Manchester City, six years on
Not only has the manager changed, only two of the Manchester City’s current squad were in the starting eleven and subs that day. The loss might even have been a key reason behind why City went so strongly for De Bruyne that summer.
Starting XI:
Joe Hart, Pablo Zabaleta, Vincent Kompany, Martin Demichelis, Gael Clichy, Jesus Navas, Yaya Toure, Fernandinho, David Silva, Edin Dzeko, Sergio Aguero
The only two players that could make appearances in both games involving Duff are Fernandinho and Aguero. A sign of how rapidly and efficiently the Citizens have rebuilt their squad. Other noteworthy names in the squad are current Chelsea manager Frank Lampard who made an appearance off the bench and also Stefan Jovetic.
The City team at the time were the reigning champions and also developing plans to take over modern football with the improbable attempt to lure Pep Guardiola from Bayern Munich. It is safe to say that the summer of 2015 at Manchester City did change football.
It sparked the Galactico signing method of bringing in elite talent and mixing that with the stylish, slick and serial winning tactics of Guardiola.
17 January, 2021, The Etihad Stadium
Not much has changed in terms of the landscape of Manchester City’s ambitions since Duff last met them. The four-time champions sit third in the league with the chance to go top of the league if they win their game in hand.
Duff’s own side aren’t fairing too poorly either. Cheltenham are sixth in League two but the reality of their 1-1 draw to Newport last night is a far cry from the glitz and the glamour of the Premier League.
Starting XI:
Ederson, Kyle Walker, John Stones, Ruben Dias, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Kevin De Bruyne, Fernandinho, Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus
Two league wins later, City are a better team to the one that lost to the resilience of Duff’s Burnley defence. They have arguably the best midfielder in the world and a resurgent John Stones has reassured their defence.
Duff isn’t naïve, nor is he expecting a miracle, but the one thing he will know more than anything is that he won’t be playing the same Manchester City he faced up to six years previously.
