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Topics: Kevin De Bruyne, Kyle Walker, Manchester City, Pep Guardiola, Fan Reactions
Josh Lawless
Topics: Kevin De Bruyne, Kyle Walker, Manchester City, Pep Guardiola, Fan Reactions
Kevin De Bruyne appeared to break a long-standing captaincy tradition in Manchester City's vital 2-0 win away at Leicester City on Sunday and it's got fans talking.
City recorded a first away win in all competitions since October and a second in 10 Premier League games thanks to goals from Savinho and Erling Haaland.
The victory in Pep Guardiola's 500th game in charge of City ended a wretched run which saw the usually dominant Premier League champions slide down the table in inexplicable fashion.
They are now up to fifth on 31 points and it was clear to see how much the triumph meant to Guardiola and City's players after such a tough period.
But fans noticed a very interesting detail in the game. After a cameo in the disappointing draw with Everton, De Bruyne was back in the starting XI and managed 90 minutes in what was a hard-fought win at the King Power Stadium.
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He wore the captain's armband and did for the full game - despite captain Kyle Walker coming off the bench in the 70th minute.
Walker missed the Everton fixture on Boxing Day due to illness but interestingly did not take the armband off De Bruyne even though he was voted as captain by his fellow teammates.
Against Everton, De Bruyne was handed the armband by Bernardo Silva - also a member of City's leadership group.
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Plenty of City fans picked up on De Bruyne still having the armband at the end of the Leicester game.
One said: "Kevin De Bruyne did not hand Kyle Walker the captain's armband after his introduction in the 70th minute."
A second wrote: "I thought I was the only one who noticed this."
A third said: "Are you thinking what I'm thinking."
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Another pointed out: "Bernardo gave it Kev when Kev came on the other day."
A final fan added: "Usually Walker takes it when he comes on."
While his worn the armband on a number of occasions, De Bruyne is believed to have rejected the chance to be City's captain.
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According to The Athletic, the Belgium international “would rather focus on playing than the extra responsibilities”.
He is the vice-captain behind Walker though, with Guardiola confirming that Ruben Dias, Silva, former skipper Ilkay Gundogan and the injured Rodri make up the six-man leadership group