That's a really interesting point, imo.
That being said, I think he has the mentality where if someone were to sit him down and bring it up, he'd instantly get what you were talking about "Goddamit-I-thought-I-was-being-selfless-but-I've-been-too-selfish" and adjust his game to try and better help the team.
Yeah, while Bruno obviously has a bit of an ego, he clearly cares about team success enough to put his own desires above the team's. I don't think just a conversation would really get you there though. He'd need to be reassured that if he does moderate his game, it would lead to better outcomes. He'd need to know he was submitting to being part of a more coheisve unit. If it just meant we were playing the same individualistic football and he was just handing over more responsibility to other individuals, he wouldn't do it for very long. He'd just demand it back again, because he likes to be at the centre of things - as all #10s do - and he thinks that's the right way to lead the team.
I'm sure they've talked about it all before. He's mentioned a few times that he obsessively analyses his own performance with his coaches. I suspect his coaches have suggested alternative routes, he's given it a chance and then he's given up on that notion when we haven't shown much progression, and the coaches have tolerated it because he comes up with those moments.
We need a better alternative before he'll give up the responsibility. But at the same time, him hogging all the responsibility makes it difficult for more collaborative playmakers like Sancho to get into their groove. You either play at Bruno's rhythm or you watch him play another 50-50 ball to someone else every time. That's not an easy cycle to break and it needs a manger with more conviction in his own ideas to do it. Just giving it to Bruno and hoping for the best is the easy option, even if it doesn't produce the best outcomes long-term.
@Brwned
Are you aware that the difference between De Bruyne’s composed control of the game (surrounded by better players, in a better coached team, geared to constantly provide multiple passing options in attack) and Bruno’s supposed chaotic abandon is 76% vs 74% pass completion? Can’t be bothered checking heat maps but I’d imagine Bruno plays a higher % of his passes in more crowded areas further up the pitch as well.
I think you’re exaggerating Bruno’s faults here.
EDIT: According to
this article De Bruyne’s pass completion this season in all competitions is 70%.
Yeah, I think Bruno and de Bruyne play the role in a similar way, which is why they make for a good comparison. There wouldn't be much point in comparing him to someone like Bernardo Silva because they're just at opposite ends of the extreme.
I don't think that pass completion is a good proxy for controlling the game. But to be clear, if de Bruyne does have a fault, it's giving the ball away carelessly too. He just does it less often, and in situations that are less likely to disrupt the flow. Many more of De Bruyne's misplaced "passes" are those low crosses into the box after allowing the team to build up the play. It still results in turning over possession, but it does so in less dangerous areas, and it does so in a way that doesn't hinder the build up prior to that point.
I think it's arguable that Bruno is making the right choices in these situations because we're not actually capable of building up properly, we don't have the team or supporting cast to do it, so Bruno going for the jugular is genuinely our best route in almost every situation. But you still have to acknowledge in that point that we are willingly giving up the possibility to control the game, to build the play up cohesively, and the player we give the most responsibility to is the architect of that. It's really obvious that we can't succeed if our play revolves around that dynamic. That's just not what de Bruyne is doing.
When Bruno plays in de Bruyne's deeper position, where he's given far less freedom to dictate how and when we go for the kill, and instead just has to be "the blade" in key areas, he doesn't really perform (for Portugal ). De Bruyne is able to balance up those responsibilities better, for club and country. That's not especially a criticism of Bruno either because no-one's expecting him to be as good as de Bryune. He's just an example of someone who plays the same role in a similar way, but does so without killing the team flow. That's not some mythical idea.
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