DE BRUYNE The Godfather
Pep hails his ‘special’ captain after brilliant Belgian brings up a century of City goals
C Palace 2 Mateta 3, Edouard 86 Man City 4 De Bruyne 13, 70, Lewis 47, Haaland 66
THE title race is entering its climax and, like clockwork, Kevin De Bruyne has shifted into gear. It is all rather predictable.
We should be used to it by now, of course. Big players come alive in the big moments.
They do not come much bigger than De Bruyne. The brilliance of this Belgian magician never ceases to amaze.
If this virtuoso performance is symbolic of what is to come, then Liverpool and Arsenal have a big problem.
His brace here at Selhurst Park brought up 100 goals for Manchester City. But his importance to City is measured by more than the tangibles.
He is their talisman, their go-toguy. In an injury-hit campaign that has restricted De Bruyne to just 16 appearances, City have missed him.
But what transpired at Selhurst Park is anything to go by, the signs of are ominous.
The ‘godfather of attacking midfielders’ was Joe Cole’s description after witnessing De Bruyne’s purring display. Who can argue? ‘I don’t know if he likes scoring or giving assists more — but yes a really good performance,’ said his manager Pep Guardiola. ‘How many years has he been with us, nine years, 10 years? The numbers, the presence, the consistency have been amazing. He’s one of the best players in the history of Manchester City.’
‘Today, without Kevin, we wouldn’t be able to win. He was special.’
Yet, for a while City were made to sweat — Jean-Philippe Mateta firing Crystal Palace ahead in the third minute after slotting beyond Stefan Ortega following Adam Wharton’s incisive pass.
The Eagles striker, a cult figure around these parts, accepted the adulation but the precision of the pass was as impressive. Palace have developed a penchant for unearthing EFL gems: Eberechi Eze, Michael Olise and Marc Guehi all signed after impressive displays in the Championship.
Sporting director Dougie Freedman has discovered another talent in Wharton, who has a promising balance of vision, work ethic and technical ability.
Guardiola, in his animated manner, waved his arms around in disgust. Nine minutes later he was blowing kisses.
There is not much that has not already been said about De Bruyne. The touch, the invention, the arc, the finish — wow. Dean Henderson did not stand a chance, De Bruyne’s effort curving past the keeper before rippling the top-right corner.
Palace, despite the final result, deserve credit; their performance provided enough promise for manager Oliver Glasner to feel his side are grasping his instructions, although they had Henderson to thank in the 19th minute after he denied Erling Haaland following De Bruyne’s excellent through ball.
Jordan Ayew fired narrowly over before hitting the bar after a rare mistake from Rodri.
It is not that City were rattled, but their failure to take a firmer grip on the opening 45 minute was testament to Palace’s industry and bravery in trying to assert themselves on the Treble holders.
Indeed, Eze was denied a penalty following a VAR check following clumsy defending from Josko Gvardiol before Mateta fired into the side netting immediately after the restart.
Eventually, however, City’s class told. Rico Lewis fired past Henderson, via a Lerma deflection, after Joachim Andersen’s poor defensive header from Jack Grealish’s cross in the 47th minute before Haaland prodded home the
third from close range after Grealish, who has having a productive game, combined with De Bruyne.
Grealish was involved in City’s fourth, too, laying the ball off to Rodri who set up De Bruyne to fire a wicked shot beyond Henderson.
‘It was good, it has been a very untypical season with the injuries and coming back,’ said De Bruyne.
‘Sometimes I feel good, sometimes I feel a bit off with my body. I have tried to prepare myself as best as possible. I try to do the job as good as possible and today I did well.’
There was at least some positivity for Palace in the closing stages as Olise, following a two month lay off, made his return from a serious hamstring injury.
Since Glasner’s appointment in February, after Roy Hodgson stepped down,the south London side have won just once — against relegation-threatened Burnley.
Palace are now five without victory. They travel to Anfield a week today.
It has been a difficult start for the Austrian, but Olise’s return — and their first-half display — provides some reasons for optimism, as did Odsonne’s Edouard’s late goal that reduced the final deficit to two. But for City, the sense is one of expectation rather than hope. There always is at this stage of the season.
They understand the requirements during this. They understand the brief. Perhaps crucially of all, so does De Bruyne.