Kevin De Bruyne Opens Up on Guardiola vs Conte: A Comparison

De Bruyne during training 

Kevin De Bruyne compares his experiences working with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City and Antonio Conte at Napoli, highlighting key differences in their approaches.

“I'm not the king, I'm just a footballer...”

Kevin De Bruyne has highlighted the key differences between Pep Guardiola and Antonio Conte, after making the switch from Manchester City to Napoli. De Bruyne spent eight years under Guardiola's tutelage at City, while he's now working with Conte at Napoli.

Key Differences Between Guardiola and Conte

• Playing Style: Guardiola focuses more on ball control and possession, whereas Conte's approach is more structured and emphasizes mentality.
• Tactical Approach: Guardiola works more on the zonal area, whereas Conte has a distinct approach to the game.

De Bruyne, who will play his first season outside the Premier League in a decade, was welcomed with open arms by Napoli fans, who dubbed him the “king.” He humbly responded, “I'm not the king, I'm just a footballer.” With six Premier League titles and the Champions League win with City under his belt, De Bruyne aims to add another trophy to his collection with Napoli.

Kevin De Bruyne aims to add another trophy to his collection in his first season with Napoli, who are looking to defend their Serie A title. With six Premier League titles and a Champions League win with Manchester City, De Bruyne is targeting his 25th career trophy.

De Bruyne is no stranger to being under legendary managers, having played under Jose Mourinho, Manuel Pellegrini, Dieter Hecking and of course Conte and Guardiola, who he spent eight years under.

Speaking with Corriere dello Sport opened up on the difference between Guardiola and Conte, who led Napoli to glory last season. 

“I'd say they're two different ways of playing: Pep is probably a little more focused on ball control and possession, while Conte is a little more structured in his game and focuses a lot on mentality. 

“Pep works more on the zonal area. There are a couple of different things, but every coach has their own principles and characteristics.”

Second game, first win! 🙌🏼 pic.twitter.com/efbvlnNkqS

— Kevin De Bruyne (@KevinDeBruyne) July 26, 2025

De Bruyne humbly responded to the grand welcome he received from Italian fans, who hailed him as the “king” following his high-profile transfer to Napoli. “I'm not the king, I'm just a footballer,” he said, downplaying the praise.

“I don't pay much attention to certain things. I try to do my job as best I can, but obviously, it's nice to be appreciated.

“I hope I can continue to have a great career.”