KEVIN DE BRUYNE was happy to shoulder the responsibility of putting Manchester City’s penalty woes behind them and hand them a famous win.
The Belgian ended City’s recent spot-kick woes by scoring seven minutes from time at the Bernabeu to seal a dramatic 2-1 comeback win over Real Madrid in the first leg of their last-16 tie.
De Bruyne took on the role after City had missed five of their previous seven penalties.
‘I was the one on the paper and I took my responsibility,’ he said.
‘I never blame someone if they take it and miss it — it happens. But I took the responsibility and shot it good. It’s nice.’
De Bruyne, who also provided the cross for Gabriel Jesus’ 78th-minute equaliser, added: ‘In the first 50 minutes we showed them a little too much respect and it put a bit more pressure (on us).
‘But I think at this level you are going to have a couple of storms and you are going to have to weather through it.’
Now City turn their attentions to Sunday’s Carabao Cup final against Aston Villa at Wembley.
‘We want to win the League Cup like every cup,’ said 28-year-old De Bruyne. ‘It’s obviously very important for us.’
