Kev's a ton of a gun
| Published date | 07 April 2024 |
| Publication title | Daily Star (England) |
However, following his belter of an equaliser at Crystal Palace and killer fourth City goal yesterday, any such discussions were rendered irrelevant.
Okay KDB, at 32 and with a recent history of hamstring trouble, needs resting occasionally - as in the midweek romp past Aston Villa.
Yet the brilliant Belgian is still very much the main man for Pep Guardiola's champions, notching his 100th City goal as they recovered from falling behind here to join Liverpool on 70 points.
De Bruyne's spectacular 25-yard effort cancelled out Jean-
Philippe Mateta's shock opener and when he slammed in another in the 69th minute, City were 4-1 up and out of sight.
It is now 25 games unbeaten for Guardiola's troops, who remain on course for a remarkable second Treble on the bounce.
Pre-match the City boss conceded the three-horse title scrap was too tight for him to have "two eyes" on their quarterfinal tie with Real Madrid.
But clearly he had one on it as he rotated. Phil Foden, fresh from blitzing three in the midweek victory over Villa, was on the bench. So, too, the influential Bernardo Silva.
That seemed a little odd given Guardiola had declared the Selhurst Park trip a must-win outing if they were stay in the hunt for more domestic glory.
Mind you, when you recall De Bruyne and top scorer Erling Haaland to fill the gaps, it considerably lessens the risks.
Not that Guardiola was probably feeling too clever when the Eagles, now without a win in five, stunned the visitors by snatching a third-minute lead.
A misplaced pass from fit-again John Stones led to a swift counter-attack that released
Mateta - and the French striker duly kept ahead of Ruben Dias to fire in a low shot off the post.
That had Palace's Austrian coach Oliver Glasner celebrating in mad, Mikel Arteta fashion along the touchline .
You sensed that was premature. For while the Eagles created several good chances before half-time, City were soon back in the contest thanks to the sheer brilliance–DE BRUYNE .
In this mood, he is unstoppable.
As Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson discovered when he was left clutching thin air.
There seemed little danger when De Bruyne collected possession yet he had other ideas, firing a curling peach into the far top corner.
Rico Lewis and Haaland efforts immediately after half-time put City in control...
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