The Belgian playmaker limped out of the Champions League final.
Kevin De Bruyne has revealed he was carrying an injury during the closing stages of Manchester City’s famous treble triumph.
De Bruyne was not on the pitch as City capped a stunning season with a UEFA Champions League victory on Saturday, finally succumbing to a long-term hamstring problem.
The inspirational Belgian playmaker was forced off after 35 minutes of the hard-fought final against Inter Milan in Istanbul, which City won 1-0 with a Rodri strike in the 68th minute.
De Bruyne said: “I give everything for my team and the people at the club know that. I am proud that I was able to do what I was able to do.
“It’s a shame that it went the way it did for me here, but we won the Champions League so there’s nothing wrong with that.
“I felt good this week, but for two months they told me it was a risk – but you know, you take it.
“I did what I had to do. Of course I missed some games, but I managed games like Arsenal, Bayern (Munich) and (Real) Madrid.
“Also, I had some personal stuff going on with my family and I got through that, but I just ruptured my hamstring here.
It was the second time De Bruyne has been forced off in a Champions League final after suffering a serious facial injury in the loss to Chelsea two years ago.
Still, when City came through, he didn’t want to dwell on his personal misfortune.
“That’s not how I look at football,” he said. “It is what it is.
“I felt the team was able to handle it and do their job. Okay, being injured is never pretty, but I was there for my team and I did what I needed to do.
“I felt good for the 35 minutes I played and I can’t expect more from myself.”
The win fulfilled De Bruyne’s long-term ambition after enjoying considerable domestic success during his eight years at City.
He said: “I basically fought my whole career with my team to win this medal.
“I still don’t think it defines my career – I know who I am as a footballer and a person and I’m happy and proud of who I am – but obviously you want to win.”
Much has been made of what victory could mean for City, both as a platform for the current squad and for the status of the club as a whole, but De Bruyne feels that is a question for another day.
He said: “It’s not something I’m really thinking about right now. The season is so long that we should enjoy this moment.
“We’ve had subdued parties up until now, but now we can enjoy ourselves for a few days as we should.
“We haven’t lost a single game in the Champions League this season, so I think we deserve it.”
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