Just two points cover the top three with recent rivals Liverpool and Arsenal determined to stop City from winning a record fourth successive title while Aston Villa and Tottenham are not much further back.
Ahead of the 12:30 (UK) clash with Everton at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, the Belgian says City are used to being pushed for the title.
“The competition is always there,” he said. “Maybe this year there are a few more teams together.
“Most of the teams maybe also dropped a little bit more points than they did in the years before, us included.
“I wouldn’t say that anybody has had a fluent run until now and that can help us. We just need to try and do our job as good as possible.
“The quality is there, the willingness is there, sometimes it gets finished in the details. I don’t see any reason why we couldn’t [win it], but the competition is really hard.
CITY V EVERTON | MATCH PREVIEW
“Last year we also had difficulties. Arsenal were doing great. But we found a way to win, and this year is no different.
“We have to find ways to win games, to win difficult moments. Every year, no matter when you play, there are going to be moments where it goes easy and other moments it is really, really hard and tough to win games. You cannot compare.
“In difficult moments, at the time you have that one, you have to figure it out, go through it mentally or the quality has to make a difference.”
De Bruyne has been in brilliant form since returning from surgery that ruled him out for the majority of the first six months of the season.
The 32-year-old has claimed four assists and a goal in just 240 minutes as he’s taken his step back into action.
While the setback was a blow, De Bruyne says he feels lucky to have escaped injuries for much of his career.
“It is part of life isn’t it,” he added. “Honestly, I had some injuries in my life, but I have been lucky outside of the eye surgery I had after the Champions League final [against Chelsea].
“This was my first surgery that I had at the age of 32, so in a way I am very lucky. I played almost 700 games in my career and that is a lot of games. Some people don’t even make 400 or 500.
“I would say at my age that I have been lucky. There are moments where you are disappointed, but you get over it and you learn about these things and try to spin the negative into a positive.
“ It happens but you just have to work hard and try to be available as much as possible.”
