The Belgian playmaker also feels his form and fitness is returning after a first half of the season marred by injury.
The Blues have endured a difficult campaign after a run of nine defeats in 13 games across all competitions late in 2024, but Saturday's 4-1 defeat of West Ham brought a brighter start to the new year.
Coming after a hard-earned win at Leicester last week, some of the tension at the Etihad Stadium has eased and De Bruyne feels the champions now have something to build on.
"I think it was better than the game at Leicester," said De Bruyne, whose outing was his 400th for the club. "I think we had some good moments, some moments a bit less and I think, in the end, we lost a bit of rhythm, energy.
"But to win the first game of '25 is good. I think it feels some players are getting back physically and hopefully it gets better.
"Obviously, it's been a difficult season for many, many reasons, but I think we're getting a bit better." De Bruyne has had his own personal frustrations having taken time to regain match fitness since a two-month lay-off with a pelvic problem in the autumn.
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