And bench Costa? I like De Bruyne a lot, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him struggle similarly to Götze. Playing both together doesn't make a lot of sense in our team, even though it's in theory possible. I also really love the connection Müller and Lewandowski have. Their link-up play with each other is outstanding and they create countless chances for each other.
As great as De Bruyne was last season, if we can't give him the platform to shine and only plan to use him as a part of the system in a position that clearly isn't his best, I'd rather see us stay away. Right now, Müller and Robben are clearly first choice. Lewandowski and Costa are the next 2 attackers who should start. Then Götze as first back-up with Ribery being a huge questionmark, who could be everything from best player to impact sub to retired. We also have quite a lot of central midfielders who offer creativity down the middle, especially Thiago but also Vidal. So how do you fit De Bruyne in? How do you build a team that allows him to run the show like he did last season for Wolfsburg?
It's already difficult for City to give him that, but I'd say it's even more difficult for us with the depth we have in attack and the tactics we use. Add to it, that his personality certainly raises some questionmarks and that we never planned with him in the team this summer, that he had no pre-season with us and would be thrown into a totally different style of football and the risk of it becoming a disaster that causes problems in the dressing room makes it a bad idea.
If he doesn't want to go to City and no other club he likes is interested this summer, he can always just take the doubled wages Wolfsburg offer him and stay for one more year. And then if he wants to leave next summer, do it early in the transfer window so that Wolfsburg can buy a replacement early and he can ease into his new team a lot better.
