The outcome of the 2022–23 UEFA Champions League final, according to Kevin De Bruyne, won’t determine his future at Manchester City.
While playing for Manchester City, the 31-year-old solidified his reputation as one of the finest midfielders in Premier League history by winning five league titles and two PFA Players’ Player of the Year honors.
KDB had one of the greatest seasons of his career in 2022–23, racking up an incredible 24 assists across all competitions as City won the league, FA Cup, and advanced to the UEFA Champions League final. Many believe that the aforementioned Champions League final will serve as the benchmark for Manchester City’s trophy-laden period.
The Citizens are overwhelming favorites heading into this season’s final game versus Inter in Istanbul. The Citizens have previously gone close to winning the league, most notably losing a final to Chelsea in a game in which De Bruyne was taken off due to a head injury.
With a historic treble and a first European winners’ medal in touching distance however, De Bruyne has told the press that he doesn’t believe the game will define his legacy: “Will it help? Yes. But one 90 minutes doesn’t define a career.
“I am on around 700 games. One 90 minutes out of 700 doesn’t define my career. But obviously it helps. We have performed really well. We have been in so many quarter and semi-finals and two finals. We have been there most of the time.
“I want to win the Champions League and I want to win the treble. We should enjoy next week and hopefully we can perform the best we can.”
Man City would become only the second English club to complete a triple if they defeat Inter, with Man Utd being the only other team to accomplish the extraordinary accomplishment.