Pep Guardiola: Kevin De Bruyne one of best players in Manchester City history
Pep Guardiola hailed Kevin De Bruyne as “one of the best players in the history of Manchester City” after the Belgian scored two goals in their 4-2 victory at Crystal Palace.
De Bruyne cancelled out Jean-Philippe Mateta’s early opener before Rico Lewis fired the visitors into the lead less than two minutes after half-time.
Guardiola’s men then took control, with Erling Haaland adding another before De Bruyne struck his 100th in a City shirt in the 70th minute.
Odsonne Edouard clawed one back for Palace late on, but Guardiola praised the influence of Belgium playmaker De Bruyne as City kept up the pressure on Premier League title rivals Liverpool and Arsenal.
City boss Guardiola said: “Today Kevin won the game. Without Kevin today maybe we would not be able to win, so when we talk about tactics, about managers, having players like Kevin in these kinds of games, it’s easy.
“I listen to him on the bus, in the locker room, in the training session, (he) laughs, and we are safe. His body language dictates a lot how he is, and all the players, but especially Kevin.
“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.”
De Bruyne told his club’s website: “Yeah, it’s funny. I had a conversation with Erling [Haaland] and Phil [Foden] and said the only goal I want is to score 100 before you guys.
“Erling was like 18 behind but he would probably score that in two games.
“It’s a proud moment. It means that I’ve had longevity here. It means a lot of good moments for this club.”
City have a quick turnaround before facing Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday night, and their boss admitted their crowded calendar – which will also see them face Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-finals later this month – continues to prove challenging.
Guardiola added: “We were not solid like we normally are in terms of organisation, transition, but especially we gave away the first goal, but this is more a consequence for the fact that three days, three days, three days.
“The mental energy that we waste more than physicality is tremendous and that’s why sometimes that happens.”
Palace have still won just one match since Oliver Glasner replaced Roy Hodgson in February.
They showed plenty of promise, particularly in a determined first half that saw Jordan Ayew hit the crossbar, but their boss wanted more from his men.
Glasner said: “For me it’s a little bit difficult, because when you lose 4-2 I’m never satisfied or happy with the result, but I could see many positive things today in our game.
“We can see if we do our job, how we want to play on a very high level. We are competitive against any team and this gives me confidence again.”
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Kevin De Bruyne has earned the right to hold Man City to ransom
Man City beat Crystal Palace 4-2 on Saturday
Kevin De Bruyne scored twice and grabbed assist in comeback win
Contract expires in 2025 but he should be able to demand whatever he wants
By Sean Walsh
Apr 6, 2024
De Bruyne led the way in Man City's win at Crystal Palace
De Bruyne led the way in Man City's win at Crystal Palace / BEN STANSALL/GettyImages
When Phil Foden fired home from 25 yards to secure his hat-trick in Wednesday's 4-1 win over Aston Villa, it felt like the world was watching the changing of the Manchester City guard.
Kevin De Bruyne, absent for much of the season so far due to injury, remained an unused substitute for the visit of Villa. He watched on from the bench as someone nine years his junior took the game by the scruff of the neck and kept alive the champions' title charge.
Though the midfielder has shown himself to be as fiery as his trademark red hair in recent years - you really should let him talk - it's hard to imagine him taking such a performance from Foden personally, a la Michael Jordan.
De Bruyne said on Saturday that Foden does keep him 'on his toes'. But on the basis of the Belgian's outstanding display in their 4-2 victory away at Crystal Palace, you'd be forgiven for thinking that his junior's heroics did indeed rattle him to a snider degree.
The 32-year-old was the best player on the Selhurst Park pitch by a million miles. Eagles manager Oliver Glasner joked pre-match that if he didn't think his team had a chance, he may as well go sight-seeing in London. In hindsight, he should probably have gone for a stroll through the West End.
Palace took an early lead through Jean-Philippe Mateta, but that only served to wake a sleepy City from their slumber.
With a wicked swing of his right boot, De Bruyne hauled the visitors level from just inside the 18-yard box, picking out the very top corner of Dean Henderson's net. He would provide an assist for an extremely grateful Erling Haaland midway through the second half before icing the game with another goal moments later.
At a time where City - whose other starters featured Rico Lewis, 19, Oscar Bobb, 20 - seem to be getting younger and younger, it was their old head who remained resolute and dragged them to three points in one of the Premier League's loudest atmospheres.
Kevin De Bruyne, Jack Grealish
De Bruyne put on a show / Richard Pelham/GettyImages
Post-match, manager Pep Guardiola said to TNT Sports: "In the first half we did mistakes but we made a comeback and Kevin De Bruyne won the game with his actions, his assists, his goals and everything. We won the game with him.
"I didn't know that he enjoyed scoring goals more than assists but I keep pushing him to say we have to win games. He has won many games for us, no doubt. It was really good for his performance."
The problem moving forward for City is how they resolve De Bruyne's uncertain future. 90min understands he will receive a huge offer from the Saudi Pro League this summer and is one of the division's two priority transfer targets alongside Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, while his City contract is up in 2025.
City might see it in their best interests to sell an ageing star while they still can. They have been efficiently ruthless with many of De Bruyne's predecessors and former teammates. He might be seen as no different.
There is a cultural significance around De Bruyne that's different, however. When 90min recently ranked the best Premier League players of all time, he came in at number five. No other City regular (Frank Lampard does not count) finished in the top 15. De Bruyne didn't score the goal that won the club their first title in a generation nor was he part of that loveable first wave of Etihad Stadium superstars, but he is undoubtedly the face of City in the Premier League era, perhaps their greatest player of all time.
It's an argument De Bruyne should be making to the club in any contract negotiations - he's earned the right to be demanding and firm in any talks over a new deal. He may only be a bit-part player wheeled out for the biggest occasions moving forward due to declining fitness, but he is as big and important as any other figure at the club.
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