After his side claimed back-to-back wins in their Premier League and Europa League ties this week, in which they kept their first clean sheets since a 4-0 victory over FC Pyunik in mid-August, the 24-year-old Belgian international insists it will take another defensively sound performance from his teammates if they are to get a result at the Etihad.
On picking up first league win
“I think we needed that, everyone needed that. In the games before, we were not really playing bad, but in the last few games we have been improving our game, so it’s important we held a clean sheet as well against Watford.
“It was our strength last year, but I think we have to try and keep on going and try to be well organised. Against Watford, we did that well and we should just try to keep on being well organised and trying to score goals as well.
“We played a good game, it was a deserved win and the win everybody needed.”
On the threat Man City pose
“Everyone knows the strength of City and they’ve been playing really well lately as well, so we will have to be ready and be at our best to maybe do something.
“We can win, of course we can win. I think everything is possible in football, but we know the strength of City and they are winning all the games, but we will have to be really well organised because they score very easily.
“Everyone has seen that in the last few games and we will have to be very focused and very organised, but just try to do our own thing and try to play our own game, and then we will see what happens.”
On Belgium team mate Kevin De Bruyne
“He’s been tremendous, he has been outstanding and he’s so important for the team, not only giving assists but he works hard, he runs a lot as well and he’s someone who can push the team forward.
“He’s so important for the team and I’m happy for him because he’s obviously Belgian as well and I know him from national team. He’s very ambitious and he always wants more so he’s very important for his team, for every team, as much for Belgium as for City.”
On aims for the season
“It’s very early to say those kinds of things because there’s still a lot of games coming and it’s still early and we have to see what happens.
“That’s what makes this league special; every team can just be on the top of the ranking, but it’s still early and still a lot of games coming, so we will try to take as many points as possible.”
