Maybe it was the sprint and celebratory jump to the Blues fans from the half-way line that wore him out. Or maybe it was the 202 minutes he had just played in three days in two huge games.
Pep Guardiola and Bernardo Silva blasted the FA for making City play twice in less than three days. Guardiola said he just wanted to protect his players. Bernardo insisted he wouldn't have complained had City lost, but questioned the motivations of the FA and simply said "it's not acceptable."
Amid Bernardo's extraordinary comments clearly fueled by anger as he let his emotions out in the Wembley mixed zone - was a nod to De Bruyne's condition. "I played 90 minutes today. Me, Kevin, Phil (Foden). I wasn't fine at all. I wasn't fine," he said.
De Bruyne, clearly, wasn't fine. He was understandably tired, and speaking after the cup semi-final, De Bruyne admitted that some of his performances haven't been as good as others as a result of his injury problems.
"It's been a different year. It's been a weird period - coming back after such a long injury. I can't lie," he said. "I know people expect to see you on the pitch and to be the same as before, but it takes time to get to your best level. Some performances have been really good, some have been a bit less, but I give everything| that I need to get to this level so I'm happy."
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
'We must show personality and character'
LISANDRO Martinez has warned United’s players must show ‘personality and character’ in the coming weeks.
Any progress over the past few games has been brutally dismantled...
SEVERAL United supporters headed for the exit in the 64th minute after the ball zipped past Andre Onana for a third time. They had seen this before - just over a year ago.
'Inevitable ending' for Rashford's time at Reds
SKY Sports pundit and former United defender Gary Neville believes Marcus Rashford’s time at the club has an ‘inevitable ending’ after the forward was left out of Ruben Amorim’s matchday squad for a third consecutive game.
LEAKY ROOF INTERRUPTS AMORIM'S PRESS CALL
RUBEN Amorim's post-match press conference was interrupted by a leak in the ceiling yesterday.
WE DESERVE MORE FROM GAMES - MARTINEZ
LISANDRO Martinez believes United are ‘playing well’ and deserve more for their performances with Ruben Amorim in charge.
Boss refuses to blame United's set-piece coach
RUBEN Amorim admitted that United became nervous against Bournemouth from the moment they conceded a set-piece – and that the anxiety came from the stands as well as from the players.
'Everybody is so anxious, everyone in the club is tired of these moments'
RUBEN Amorim felt United were anxious from the first minute of their humbling by Bournemouth at Old Trafford.
City's 'low confidence' key for Villa
ASTON Villa manager Unai Emery has admitted his side felt they could take advantage of City’s lack of confidence during their 2-1 win over Pep Guardiola’s side on Saturday.
'We are not solid on the ball, we are not creating much and that defines the team at this moment'
CITY'S woeful run of form continued as the Blues slumped to a 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa on Saturday lunchtime.
FURY DECISION IS JUST 'NUTS'
PROMOTER Frank Warren was quick to express his dismay following Tyson Fury’s unanimous points loss to world heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk in Riyadh, describing the scoring as ‘nuts’.
