Brazil coach Tite: De Bruyne can do things others can’t

Paul Macdonald

• Updated: 20 May 2021 11:26 BST
• 2 min read

Brazil coach Tite has suggested that Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne is among the best players in the world.

De Bruyne has struggled with injuries this season, but that hasn’t stopped City from storming to the top of the Premier League and into the knockout stages of the Champions League.

When asked to comment on who he thought were the top players in the world today, it was no surprise to see Tite claim that Neymar, his team’s talisman, was top of the pile.

But instead of mentioning either Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, or even the current talk of the town Kylian Mbappe, he lauded Robert Lewandowski, winner of the FIFA Best award, before heaping praise on De Bruyne.

In response to being asked about his top three, Tite said, via FIFA.com: “Neymar first, Lewandowski second and De Bruyne third.

“De Bruyne is capsule of doing things that others can’t. I love watching him play.”

Tite went on to say that Neymar has improved as a player and is now somebody he describes as a “bow and arrow”.

“Neymar has matured a lot,” he continues. “Before, when he was at Barcelona and in my early days with the Seleção, he was a player who would be out on the wing, would score goals, had pace, would dribble, do individual plays.

“Now he’s expanded the area in which he plays and, as well as being a goalscorer, he creates plays for others. He’s now what we call a ‘bow and arrow’ – he can set things up and finish things off. He’s increased his arsenal.”