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Soccer

Wolfsburg coach expects De Bruyne to remain with club

By FoxSports
Published | Updated
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WOLFSBURG, GERMANY - AUGUST 01: Kevin De Bruyne and head coach Dieter Hecking of VfL Wolfsburg are honored by german sport magazine KICKER prior to kickoff during the DFL Supercup 2015 match between VfL Wolfsburg and FC Bayern Muenchen at Volkswagen Arena on August 1, 2015 in Wolfsburg, Germany. (Photo by Dennis Grombkowski/Bongarts/Getty Images)

Wolfsburg coach Dieter Hecking thinks Kevin De Bruyne will remain with the Bundesliga club after the Belgian inspired them to victory in the Supercup on Saturday.

Despite missing an open goal in the first half, De Bruyne led Wolfsburg's charge against Bayern Munich, providing the assist for Nicklas Bendtner's late equalizer. He then scored one of the Wolves' five penalties as last season's DFB-Pokal winners beat the Bundesliga champions 5-4 on spot-kicks. The 24-year-old had a hand in seven of Wolfsburg's 12 shots, underlining why he is attracting interest from top clubs throughout Europe.

Manchester City have been linked with signing the former Chelsea winger, but Hecking is confident he will get to work at least another year with De Bruyne.

"It would certainly be nice and I think it will happen too," Hecking told Germany's ZDF television. He added: "Kevin showed what he's capable of doing for us this season and we don't want to sell him. That's our stance and I think a lot would have to happen for him to go. Although you can never tell in football, as his coach I do expect to have him this season."

Thanks in no small part to De Bruyne - the Bundesliga's player of the year last season - Hecking was able to follow up winning the DFB-Pokal with the Supercup. "You work for days like this," he said. "It's a great feeling." Hecking also had Bendtner to thank for his second trophy in a matter of months, although few would have predicted that just a fortnight ago.

Hecking was one of Bendtner's biggest critics, warning him that he was not going to find any room in his squad this season if he did not get himself into shape, physically and mentally.

"I think in the last seven days, he's understood and we're delighted for him for this goal. We were very clear about things with him and we hope he now accepts what he has to do to play a role for us. He's not lacking much, he's just got to be consistent and put in the work," Hecking said.