De Bruyne: Man City can't focus on title race amid fixture chaos

Kevin De Bruyne claimed the hectic schedule means Manchester City have no time to think about the ramifications of any results in the title race.

City preserved their spender one-point lead over Liverpool in Sunday's pulsating draw ahead of this week's Champions League knockout games.

Pep Guardiola's side take a one-goal lead to Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, while Liverpool boast a two-goal cushion over Benfica at Anfield, before the pair then face off again at Wembley in Saturday's FA Cup semi-final.

De Bruyne, who is producing his best performances of the season in time for the run-in, believes the lack of rest can be used as a positive for both title rivals.

'Even if you wanted to, you don't have the time to think,' the 30-year-old said. 'We leave for Madrid on Tuesday and it is the same [turnaround] for the cup game.

'It would have been nice to think about the end of the season but you don't get the time. That is maybe a good thing because you just play, play, play and then we will see what happens.

'The schedule is so hard for both clubs, the games come thick and fast and the quality of the Premier League is so high. It's going to be a massive challenge.' 

De Bruyne, who has scored in each of his last four matches, believes Diego Simeone's Atletico will look to stifle the second leg as they did at the Etihad Stadium last week - but suggested there may be more spaces for the Premier League champions to exploit later in the game.

'Atletico, where you play against such a defensive wall - it is not the best game to play or watch,' the 30-year-old added. 'There's nothing we can do about it. I think it will be a little bit tight at the beginning. Depending on the score, it has to change if it stays this way. I don't