Monday gossip

MCFCEditorial

Media Watch: De Bruyne happy to take penalty responsibility

There is a double helping of Kevin De Bruyne on Monday’s back pages.

Men's Team
Jesus: Leicester win perfect preparation for the Bernabeu
The midfielder has told journalists he would be willing to take responsibility for Manchester City’s penalties, if asked, whilst also discussing Wednesday’s Champions League clash against Real Madrid.

Karim Benzema has been doing the same from the Spanish giant’s perspective and there is also reaction to our thrilling 3-3 draw with Chelsea in the FA WSL.

From the players
Manchester Evening News: Kevin De Bruyne would take Man City penalties - if he gets asked
De Bruyne: “Yeah [I would take one], why not? I don't really care.
“For me I think it's important for strikers to have them because it helps their goals tally.
“It doesn't affect me that much but if they want me to step up, I will. That's obviously something for the technical staff to decide."

The Irish Independent: City eyeing up Madrid clash with mix of revenge and redemption
De Bruyne: “Real have won the most Champions Leagues out of everybody.
“But I think we will go there to try to play our game like we always do and try to play offensive football, try to put them under pressure and try to have a good game and, if we can, win.
“You want to play at the highest level and obviously there's a buzz when you play these kinds of games. I think most of us have played these type of games so we know how to prepare ourselves."
Sports Mole: Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema expecting "even game" against Manchester City
Benzema: “They're a team that play with the ball, who aren't scared to make lots and lots of passes. It's going to be an even game.
“[The Champions League] represents a lots of things - there's something different [about it], the emotions are not the same.
“That comes automatically in fact. It's not that you don't give as much in other competitions, but in the Champions League, I don't know... there's something about it."

Match reaction
The Guardian: Manchester City and Chelsea share points after six-goal WSL thriller
Writes Suzanne Wrack: “If ever there was an advert for the quality of the Women’s Super League, this was it.
“In a gut-busting end-to-end encounter between league leaders Manchester City and an unbeaten Chelsea, in which Georgia Stanway scored the league’s 2,000th goal and had a penalty saved, every ounce of fight was expended by the players on the Academy stadium pitch.
“Goals pounded in one after the other with the pace of heavyweight fists and a draw, a deserved sharing of the spoils, was the right result."