Graeme Souness has lambasted Kevin De Bruyne for his 'totally unnecessary' comments about Belgium before the World Cup.
Belgium were knocked out of the tournament on Thursday as they drew 0-0 with Croatia in a must-win match. Romelu Lukaku missed four absolute sitters late on and left the pitch in tears before punching the perspex glass of a dugout. The Red Devils have been uninspiring throughout the group stages as they only narrowly edged past Canada in their opening match before losing to eventual table-toppers Morocco.
Manchester City star De Bruyne has come in for criticism throughout the tournament after his comments before it got underway when he disparaged his nation's chances of winning.
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When asked by the Guardian if Belgium had a chance of lifting the World Cup, De Bruyne candidly replied: "No chance. We are too old."
Graeme Souness has now become the latest to question De Bruyne's thinking with the remark. "You gain nothing," the Liverpool legend said on ITV punditry duty.
"If those are your thoughts, keep them to yourself. That would not have spread a happy message in the camp, just totally unnecessary, why he’s chose to do that only he could tell you. But that is not what you want to hear from their best player."
Earlier in the day while speaking on the BBC, Micah Richards had more sympathy but still thought it was the wrong thing to say. "I think it would’ve been frustration, he’s been in the form of his life, he’s come here and Belgium aren’t in their groove," Richards said.
"He shouldn’t be hanging his teammates out like that but for Vertonghen to react like that is even worse, two wrongs don’t make a right. It was out of frustration, they need to get it right today."
De Bruyne now has over three weeks to rest and recuperate before City return to action in the Carabao Cup against Liverpool on December 22.
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