Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne has issued a warning to Liverpool regarding their hopes of retaining the Premier League title.
De Bruyne’s City fell short 18 points to Liverpool last season and could only manage a second-place finish following a triumphant campaign of their own.
The Reds waltzed away with the crown with seven games to spare, ending a 30-year title drought. Furthermore, Jurgen Klopp’s men were just a single point short of smashing a 100-point barrier.
The team that lifted the Premier League title in remarkable fashion has undergone almost no changes this summer. Apart from Kostas Tskimikas, no one has yet to arrive at Anfield.
Despite keeping the core of the squad, Liverpool will find it more difficult defending the title than winning it in the first place. That’s according to Kevin De Bruyne, who had gone through a similar experience.
“It is really hard [defending the title], yeah,” De Bruyne told Daily Mail.
“It was harder than we expected, and we needed a very big fight with them to get it done.
“Mentally, sometimes it’s tougher. Some teams are a little more focused on beating you.
“Sometimes, some people find it more difficult after winning to get that same feeling again.”
De Bruyne also reflected on the motivation as one of the key factors to getting to the ultimate prize.
“It is very difficult to recreate the same feeling even with the same team.
“There is so much in life that goes on personally. Every little thing can change you. Injury can change you.
“Football is all about circumstances, and it’s already difficult enough to try and win one, never mind twice.
“I think they [Liverpool] can reach the levels again. I don’t think you need to change the team to have the same feeling or ambition. But I don’t know how they feel. I don’t know their desire. For everyone, it is personal.
“Sometimes, when you win something, you can feel less. Sometimes it can give you extra hunger. So, it’s difficult to know. Let’s see.”
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