Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne had admitted it was a ‘miracle’ that he played for Belgium in their Euro 2020 quarter-final defeat to Italy on Friday night, given the ankle ligament problem he was carrying from the last 16 tie against Portugal.
Both De Bruyne and Eden Hazard were injury doubts for Belgium before the game in Munich kicked off. The latter was ruled out completely and didn’t even make the bench, but De Bruyne took his usual place in Roberto Martinez’s starting XI and played the full 90 minutes.
That is despite suffering a tear to his ankle ligaments in the previous round.
“It was a miracle that I played because there was definitely damage to my ankle. A tear in my ligaments. But I felt responsibility to play for my country,” De Bruyne explained to the media.
The City maestro initially came into the tournament as a doubt after a heavy collision in the Champions League final at the end of May left him with a broken nose and fractured eye socket.
“For me personally it has been four or five weird weeks. But I especially want to thank the medical staff,” he explained.
With the new Premier League season only six weeks away, City fans and staff alike will be hoping that the ankle ligament tear won’t hamper his ability to train during pre-season.
Belgium’s exit means De Bruyne will now have a few weeks off to rest and recharge, potentially meaning he could report for duty back in Manchester by the end of July.
City have not yet announced any planned pre-season friendlies ahead of the upcoming campaign but their season will commence for real from 7 August when, as Premier League champions, they face FA Cup winners Leicester in the Community Shield at Wembley Stadium.
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Source : 90min