It's always usually very different when the first team is playing as against when the second does and this is actually undisputed as it could be seen in their performance and sometimes their productivity aswell too, I do prefer that the first teams to play in most of their games but then it can't be like that all the time because the first team players are at some point fatigued or probably injured too which will then mean they can't be able perform optimally.

Kevin de bruyne is a player that he's importance in Manchester city can't be undermined, he's productive and is of very great performance to Manchester city and that can only mean that he's of great importance to the team and is definitely a first team player, away from him is also the likes of haland, doku and others in the first team who are also doing greatly for the team too. Manchester city no doubts has got a good strength and their depth is such that can be trusted to be very reliable and so they can be able to really get to deliver their squad well enough.

The absence of de bruyne actually affected Manchester city but it didn't stopped them from winning games actually, they had a few wins and also some draws aswell in his absence which they can definitely still perform in his absence but the difference will be in their productivity as  they may not be productive enough Nas they probably aught to be and this isn't common with them alone as other teams aswell has got this same experience too.