Kevin De Bruyne frustrated by ongoing thigh problem but not by Manchester City's form - 'A very annoying one'

Kevin De Bruyne has returned to Manchester City's starting eleven in recent weeks, but the midfielder insists he is still not 100% fit. The playmaker has revealed that he found the injury particularly "annoying" after a strong start to the season, but has also stated that he is not too concerned about Manchester City's recent run of five consecutive defeats.

Kevin De Bruyne believes his ongoing thigh problem is particularly annoying after Manchester City's impressive start to the season.

The Belgian playmaker returned to Pep Guardiola's side earlier this month having not featured in six Premier League games and two UEFA Champions League fixtures.

City were undefeated across all competitions when De Bruyne suffered his injury, but they are now on a run of five consecutive defeats.

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The 33-year-old has made brief cameos against Sporting Lisbon, Brighton and Tottenham in recent weeks, but he believes he is still not fully fit.

"I'm getting better, I don't think I am at 100%," he said.

"It has been a very annoying one, unfortunately. I think I started really well.

"Like the losses, you have to take it, and you have to get over it.

"Hopefully, when I am 100% I will be back at my level and I can help the team again.

"I started the season really well, and then I had the injury. That annoyed me a bit.

"I have honestly only been focused on that; I have not spoken to many people [about a new contract].

"I have got time, I am not worried about anything, I am just trying to get this injury behind me and then in the future, we will see what happens."

City's disastrous run started with a 2-1 defeat against Spurs in the Carabao Cup last month.

They are yet to win a game in November, having fallen to defeats to Bournemouth, Sporting and Brighton.

They were beaten 4-0 by Tottenham in their last fixture but have the chance to return to winning ways in the Champions League on Tuesday.

City will welcome Dutch side Feyenoord to Etihad Stadium on Tuesday.

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Video credit: SNTV

De Bruyne insists he is not panicking after a difficult month that has highlighted how competitive the Premier League has become.

"It is not strange, you know, I have been a player long enough to have endured more difficult times," he added.

"It happens, I played against relegation in one of my first years, and I have done it in Germany.

"You can not expect to win every time, and I know people expect that from us because that is the standard we set for ourselves.

"In the end, you have to accept that you can have more difficult moments, you know?

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"It has been a little bit, the season started really well, and then it switched in a couple of weeks.

"It was a bit chaotic, lots of injuries and lots of people going down or playing injured.

"You have to accept it.

"People are catching up also, especially the middle part of the Premier League. It is getting way better than it was before.

"You have to embrace it and in the end you have to go through the bad moments and try to make it positive again."

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