Kevin De Bruyne praises reported Liverpool target Houssem Aouar after Champions League performance

The 22-year-old played a starring role in Lyon’s surprise win

Kevin De Bruyne expressed his frustration at Manchester City‘s Champions League exit, but also singled out one opponent as particularly impressive.

The Manchester City midfield talisman couldn’t help his side avoid elimination on Saturday evening, as they went out at the quarter-final stage after a 3-1 loss to Lyon.

De Bruyne scored the equaliser for City after Maxwel Cornet had scored the opener, but a late Moussa Dembele brace sent Pep Guardiola’s side home.

Pressed on whether any of the Ligue 1 players particularly caught his eye, he told RMC that Houssem Aouar—who has been linked with Liverpool by the same French outlet and who The Independent‘s Melissa Reddy has noted as fitting the team’s recruitment methodology—put in a strong 90 minutes against him.

“I don’t watch a lot of French football,” De Bruyne said.

“But if I had to pick it one name, for me it would be Houssem Aouar. Today, he had a good game.”

On the defeat and exit from the competition itself, it was the repeat nature of City’s failings which most bothered De Bruyne.

Speaking to BT Sport, he said the team must find a way to improve if they are to eventually end their barren run in Europe.

“Different year, same stuff. It’s a shame for us to go out in that way. We need to learn. It’s not good enough.”