Kevin De Bruyne delivered a masterful performance to inspire Manchester City’s dramatic 5-2 comeback victory over Crystal Palace, and the Belgian star made it clear that he is determined to secure a Champions League spot for the club before bidding an emotional farewell at the end of the season.
Playing in his first home match since officially announcing his departure, the 33-year-old midfielder reminded fans of his brilliance, orchestrating the turnaround at the Etihad Stadium after City had fallen behind by two goals in the opening 21 minutes. Goals from Eberechi Eze and Chris Richards stunned the home crowd early on, but De Bruyne stepped up when his side needed him most.
His superb free-kick in the first half pulled one back for City and shifted the momentum in their favour. Just before halftime, Omar Marmoush levelled the score, setting the stage for an explosive second-half performance. De Bruyne then turned provider, setting up Mateo Kovacic’s goal just two minutes after the restart, giving City the lead for the first time in the match.
From there, City’s young talents took the reins, with James McAtee and Nico O’Reilly adding two more goals to seal a resounding victory and push the team into fourth place in the Premier League standings. The result keeps City’s hopes of finishing in the top five and qualifying for next season’s Champions League firmly alive.
Reflecting on the match, De Bruyne emphasized the importance of bouncing back quickly. “I think it was important to score as quickly as possible and change the feeling of the game a bit,” he said. “I didn’t think we were playing that badly, but the scoreline wasn’t good at all. We went from there.”
As his final season at City nears its conclusion, De Bruyne’s motivation remains clear. “I want to go away with a Champions League place for this team because they deserve it,” he said. “We’ve been in the Champions League for the nine, 10 years that I’ve been here, so I hope we can do that for the team next year and I’ll just try to play good football like I’ve always done.”
In recent years, injuries have limited De Bruyne’s impact, and many have wondered if he could recapture the form that made him one of the Premier League’s most influential players. But against Palace, he showed glimpses of his old self pulling the strings, scoring, assisting, and inspiring those around him.
Pep Guardiola, visibly proud of his midfield general, lauded his contribution. “The performance of Kevin as he has done for many, many years was fantastic,” said the City boss. “He helped us to break this momentum that was not good. The gratitude we have for him is huge. He’s done incredible and I know that he can deliver.”
Guardiola noted De Bruyne’s intelligence on the ball and his crucial involvement in turning the match around. “Today he was fouled but with the ball he was so clever, and with the goals and assists, he helped a lot to win that game.”
The win not only lifted City back into the Champions League places but also served as a reminder of De Bruyne’s enduring class. With six league games left to play, his goal is simple: help City secure a seat at Europe’s top table one more time before he bows out.
