"There was so much in the press about my relationship with Jose Mourinho," De Bruyne, 27, told the Players' Tribune.
"But the truth is that I only ever spoke to him twice. The plan was always for me to go on loan for a bit."
De Bruyne scored 10 goals in 33 Bundesliga appearances for Werder Bremen before returning to Stamford Bridge, when the then Borussia Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp - now in charge of City's title rivals Liverpool - wanted to sign him.
De Bruyne said: "Mourinho texted me, 'You are staying. I want you to be part of this team'.
"So I thought, OK, great. I'm in his plans."
'I'd rather you sell me' - on leaving Chelsea
De Bruyne started two of the first four league games of the 2013-14 season, but soon fell out of favour with Mourinho and was dropped to the bench.
"Jose called me into his office in December, and it was probably the second big life-changing moment for me. He had some papers in front of him, and he said, 'One assist. Zero goals. Ten recoveries'," De Bruyne said.
"It took me a minute to understand what he was doing. Then he started reading the stats of the other attacking forwards - Willian, Oscar, Mata, Schürrle. And it's like - five goals, 10 assists, whatever.
"Jose was just kind of waiting for me to say something, and finally I said, 'But… some of these guys have played 15, 20 games. I've only played three. So it's going to be different, no?'
"It was so strange. I was completely honest. I said, 'I feel like the club doesn't really want me here. I want to play football. I'd rather you sell me.'"
The following month, De Bruyne joined Wolfsburg for £18m.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47932597
The way he treated De Bruyne is mind blowing!
The Virus
posted on 15/4/19
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 15/4/19
Some good old JA606 stats reading from Jose there.
posted on 15/4/19
Mourinho's approach only works of you can buy players constantly as it relies on rooting out the "weaker" players. If you pss off too many players and can't afford to replace them things would fall apart quickly. Also I think it is fair to say that there is now enough proof that the success will only last so long as well! Not a long term strategy
posted on 15/4/19
The way he treated De Bruyne is mind blowing!
------------------------
It was completely furrrrkin fair, I wish people would leave Jose alone. He is the greatest furrrrrkkkin manager ever.
I think I've covered Wahl's thoughts on this.
posted on 15/4/19
He then went on to say Pep has KDB when he done that ridiculous rant about heritage. No shiiiit Sherlock.
posted on 15/4/19
comment by _Viva_Vida (U6044)
posted 2 minutes ago
The way he treated De Bruyne is mind blowing!
------------------------
It was completely furrrrkin fair, I wish people would leave Jose alone. He is the greatest furrrrrkkkin manager ever.
I think I've covered Wahl's thoughts on this.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It's three r's in furrrk
posted on 15/4/19
I don't think it's disgusting, it's a genuine tactic that is outdated due to the sensitive and entitlement nature of society now.
Had he done this, even 10 years ago, his players would be motivated. They would remember, the feeling of being called into a room and read out poor statistics. They would use that to work harder, show the Manager that they are wrong. Prove their worth. Now, it's a simple, well if you're not going to appreciate me, someone else will.
It's hard to find the balance, when the power has shifted so greatly.
posted on 15/4/19
comment by Darkphoenix (U11503)
posted 18 minutes ago
I don't think it's disgusting, it's a genuine tactic that is outdated due to the sensitive and entitlement nature of society now.
Had he done this, even 10 years ago, his players would be motivated. They would remember, the feeling of being called into a room and read out poor statistics. They would use that to work harder, show the Manager that they are wrong. Prove their worth. Now, it's a simple, well if you're not going to appreciate me, someone else will.
It's hard to find the balance, when the power has shifted so greatly.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
That’s the thing though.
If you, a poster on a sports forum can recognise it’s an outdated tactic and that player power and times have changed, then why the feck can a (former) top level manager not?
It just purely be pure stubbornness and the fact he’s a massivecunt because I refuse to believe Jose isn’t smart enough to know these methods are failing him.
posted on 15/4/19
So grateful the is not at the club anymore
posted on 16/4/19
Yeah I think it's more nuanced than Jose being a diiick. He has his methods which seem completely outdated now, he has to adapt or he will fade off. Certainly don't think it was personal with KDB, Jose just has very little time for anyone who can't stomach his methods.