GRAEME SOUNESS: ‘Unstoppable’ Kevin De Bruyne has left his mark on the English game… and the one boss who should beat fabulous Nuno Espirito Santo to Manager of the Season prize

In 25 years’ time, when the name Kevin De Bruyne comes up in Manchester City conversations, they will be talking about him as one of their greatest ever players and a major part in the success of the glory years.

I believe he was the best midfield player in the Premier League for a good five years. In time, supporters will reflect on him saying: ‘You should have seen him play’.

He suffered an initial set-back at Chelsea when Jose Mourinho sold him to Wolfsburg. He had the talent but Jose obviously felt he didn’t have the mentality but, when he came back to England, Manchester City saw a player who had everything.

Forgive me, but as a former midfielder, I do believe that unless you’ve got the correct balance in the middle of your pitch you’re not going to be winning anything.

In recent years, Manchester City have had some truly outstanding, world class midfielders in Fernandinho, David Silva, Yaya Toure, Bernardo Silva and now Rodri but De Bruyne may be the best out of all of them.

For me he has been world class. He could have played for Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Paris St Germain or any other team you care to name.

He has had a knack of turning up on big occasions, and his eye for passes and shots is a dream

City have had some brilliant midfielders down the years but he may well top all of them 

A tremendous athlete, extremely dynamic, he had an eye for a pass, an eye for a goal. He must have been a dream to have around the place.

Pep Guardiola would have realised very quickly when he walked through the doors at the Etihad how fortunate he was to have him.

One constant memory for me is of De Bruyne whipping the ball in first time into the space between the six-yard box and near post for Sergio Aguero to attack. He would get across his defender and score. Like all ‘worldies’, Aguero knew instinctively what areas De Bruyne would deliver to, and he did it with unerring accuracy. Unstoppable at times.

The signs of De Bruyne’s drop in intensity though were there last year. Figuring in only 18 Premier League games last season as he picked up quite lengthy injuries, it was all normal for a man who is now 33.

Great players don’t lose their technique, but they can lose that half a yard of intensity.

City have been a big scalp to take in the Premier League, for several years they have been the biggest. Every team sees them as their Cup final and everyone wants to be bang at it when they are playing City. It’s very easy to overlook all the hard yards these super talented players have to put in every week to combat that but it does catch up with everyone – eventually.

You don’t have the elasticity in your muscles anymore, and you are more prone to picking up injuries. Whether it’s the little niggles or serious muscle tears.

He was full of beans last week at Bournemouth, but unfortunately at his age that intensity can’t be reached every week now. How many times though can we say he has been the difference for Manchester City with his cuteness of pass or spectacular goal?

One of my abiding memories will be of his partnership with Sergio Aguero, and his ability to stick a pinpoint pass to the near post for him

He has lost some intensity but great players never let go of their outstanding technique 

The Belgian suffered a setback when Jose Mourinho sold him from Chelsea to Wolfsburg

But he has proved himself a player not just of immense talent, but also an elite mentality

He will still be called a ‘worldie’ for years to come in a lesser league after leaving the Etihad

He will leave City, go to a lesser league, as nowhere is as demanding as ours, and, whether that be to the MLS or Saudi Arabia, he will still be a star. For another two or three years they’ll be declaring him a ‘worldie’.

Whatever he does, he has certainly left his mark on our game. I have nothing but admiration for him.

As difficult as this defining conversation will have been for Pep, I am sure De Bruyne would have made it easy.

You do not become that level of player without first being honest with yourself. When it is not going well, the very best of players always look in the mirror first and that is what De Bruyne has done once again.

Tarkowski deserved a red – but he’s no criminal 

If you searched high and low you’d struggle to find an ex-professional who didn’t see James Tarkowski’s challenge on Alexis Mac Allister as anything other than a red card. The fact it was a yellow is once again down to the refereeing standards, not understanding what constitutes dangerous play in front of them.

I actually think Tarkowski is an honest player. He’s big, he’s powerful and aggressive. One you’d want in the trenches with you.

He found himself the hero in the last derby game at Goodison so you can imagine he was full of emotion, full of passion, for the night at Anfield.

It wasn’t a criminal offence and, fortunately, Mac Allister wasn’t seriously injured, but Tarkowski overstepped the mark and can count his blessings.

I’m the last person to judge, as I was caught up in challenges like that in many derby games. Whether you like it or not, supporters still enjoy the physical side of the game and that ‘ain’t ever going to change’ in Merseyside derbies.

The consequent threats to Tarkowski, and his wife that we hear of are sadly, the downside of modern society. You don’t want to give it airtime but social media is part of a footballer’s life they just have to cope with these days.

On a positive note, you could see what value Arne Slot had placed on a derby victory. David Moyes has been getting a tune out of Everton lately and they would have sensed a vulnerability to Liverpool following their defeats to PSG and Newcastle United. Mikel Arteta would have been watching hoping for the same, but that victory will have been a poke in the eye to him and Arsenal.

It’ll be interesting if Everton can find the same intensity to go again and do Liverpool a favour against Arsenal on Saturday.

James Tarkowski definitely deserved a red card for his foul on Alexis Mac Allister

The abuse he and his wife suffered is unfortunate, but players just have to cope nowadays

There’s been talk of Liverpool’s season deflating following their Champions League exit and the Carabao Cup final defeat, but we should never lose sight that winning the league is the ultimate prize.

Teams can get lucky and win cups, but a league title is the prize for nine months of dealing with loss of form, injuries, disappointments and tests of character. You don’t win it by luck. Winning that trophy is a proper test of a team. It’s never a consolation prize and, without a doubt, the most important trophy you can win.

Southampton have themselves to blame 

Should Southampton be relegated by Tottenham on Sunday, it’ll be the beginning of what looks inevitable: the three sides that were promoted last summer, go back down to the Championship.

The gap in quality, the gap in financial numbers is pretty evident. The past two seasons though we have seen teams such as Southampton and, previously, Burnley insist on playing only one way. This way got Burnley relegated and looks like it will do for Southampton too.

That style is what the best teams do better than you. A team that comes up from the lower league has to be more adaptable and not just stick to one obvious game plan.

If you were managing one of these sides and on a Friday called up Arne Slot, Pep Guardiola, Mikel Arteta or Unai Emery to ask ‘how do you want us to play tomorrow?’ They’d say ‘can you please play out from the back because we are really good at pressing so we can steal the ball off you and score goals..’

You don’t say ‘happy to oblige’. You have to be more unpredictable. Can Southampton be happy that those principles have earned them 10 Premier League points?

Perhaps, they’ll be encouraged to believe that total could increase against Spurs. There’s no way of dressing up that it’s been a very disappointing season for Ange Postecoglou. He’s on a downward spiral that’s hard to get out of. When you start falling out with the die-hard support that travels away to watch you, it’s always a dangerous game.

Can Southampton be proud of sticking to their principles when they’ve amassed just 10 points?

They do stick a chance against Tottenham – it has been a miserable year for Ange Postecoglou

Arne Slot (left) is the only man who deserves manager of the season above Nuno Espirito Santo

The Dutchman has played it cool at Liverpool, but I like seeing his hot-headed side as well

My pick for manager of the season 

Nuno Espirito Santo has done a fabulous job this season and I understand calls for him to be named manager of the season but I’m a firm believer that the man who wins the main trophy should be acclaimed best manager and I hope that’s Arne Slot (as I’ve mentioned above).

Nottingham Forest are a pragmatic outfit that make life difficult for everyone they face. Saturday’s contest with Aston Villa will be an intriguing one, especially as Unai Emery knows that with Paris St Germain to come next, qualification for the Champions League may be best served via a top five place in the Premier League.

He will have to make the very best of his talented squad over these completely differing challenges in the next two games. Nuno’s Forest stand in their way first and Unai will be more than aware that they can dig out big results away from home.

But for me, Arne Slot will be more deserving of the best manager accolade if Liverpool stay on course.

I said he walked into a dream job last summer. Inheriting a Liverpool team that just needed tweaking, he took to it very well and played it cool. 

But what I really enjoy seeing is that, like all of us who have managed, there are now two Arne Slots. The cool head when everything is going well and the aggressive competitor with the angry head.