Kevin De Bruyne is proving he`s far from ready for retirement. In Manchester City`s thrilling 5-2 turnaround against Crystal Palace, he demonstrated why Pep Guardiola relies on him to lead the team.
De Bruyne was exceptional, exactly what City needed. Playing as a false nine, his intelligent movement confused Crystal Palace`s defense, opening up opportunities for players like Omar Marmoush and Ilkay Gundogan to attack. Gundogan, freed from defensive duties, played with a classic attacking midfielder style.
Once City found their rhythm after the first 30 minutes (forgetting their shaky start where they conceded two goals), Palace struggled to cope. Despite Crystal Palace`s recent good form and strong defense, De Bruyne`s brilliance overwhelmed them. His free-kick reduced the deficit, and later, his clever flick set up Mateo Kovacic for the go-ahead goal.
His passing throughout the match was superb. A perfectly placed cross for Marmoush was just one of many passes deserving of an assist. Positioned near the edge of the box, De Bruyne seemed to have extra time to assess the play, wait for teammates` runs, and deliver pinpoint passes.
This performance recalled De Bruyne`s influence from years ago, the central figure orchestrating City`s attack. The goals were spread around, with five different players scoring. After experimenting with different attacking setups during Erling Haaland`s injury absence, Guardiola may have found a winning formula.
This victory is crucial for City, moving them up to fourth place. However, with Chelsea and Newcastle United close behind, City`s Champions League qualification is still uncertain. Their season is at a critical point, and they heavily depend on De Bruyne maintaining his high level of performance, especially given his injury history.
City`s defense also showed vulnerabilities, relying on De Bruyne`s brilliance even more. Young full-backs Nico O`Reilly and Rico Lewis were often out of position, with Lewis being caught out early on. Poor defensive organization allowed Crystal Palace to score from a corner. Only a VAR offside call prevented Palace from extending their lead, which seemed to motivate De Bruyne to take control of the game.
It`s a concern for City that they rely so heavily on a 33-year-old player who has faced injury challenges. However, if De Bruyne continues to perform like this, he could end his City career in spectacular fashion.
