Former Everton keeper Neville Southall says how he’d ‘smash’ Manchester City’s star man Kevin De Bruyne during a game
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola was left furious after Leroy Sane was injured following a horror lunge during their FA Cup clash against Cardiff
FORMER Everton keeper Neville Southall has revealed his tactic if he came up against Kevin de Bruyne... "I'd smash him."
Southall hit back at Pep Guardiola's claim that his players needed more protection from referees after Leroy Sane was injured against Cardiff.
The 59-year-old claimed the Spaniard's complaint was "stupid" and he wouldn't "give a s***" about how much his opponents cost, he'd have a job to do for his team.
Speaking to , Southall said: "If I'm playing against Kevin De Bruyne and I'm not as good as him, then I'm going to smash him because that's my job for the team.
"I don't give a s*** how much he cost because my loyalty is to my team. It's no good whingeing.
"What would he do in the same position? Say 'I ain't going to tackle him because he's better than me?'
"I'm surprised there weren't more tackles from Cardiff."
Sane was the victim of a horror lunge from Cardiff's Joe Bennett which has left the German sidelined for six weeks.
After the game, Guardiola said: "All I ask is that the referee protects the players, not the Man City players, just the players.
BT PHONE HOME BT Sport could ditch rights to show live Premier League matches after raised subscriptions mean they have lost ‘thousands’ of viewers
"That's all I ask from the people in football, please. It's difficult for every team to win this kind of game.
"I know my players, it was many (bad tackles).
"Any team can play how they want but the referee must decide what is correct or incorrect. I just ask that he protects the players."