Manchester City are timing their run to the finish line just right as Kevin De Bruyne does everything in his power to ensure he leaves a Champions League club behind. The Belgian’s goal against Wolves secured a fourth straight Premier League win to send City third and one step closer to maintaining their place among the continent’s elite.
City will be as pleased with the hard-fought victory as Wolves are disappointed to leave with nothing. They rattled the woodwork twice and were the more dangerous team inside the box but when it comes to critical moments, there are few better in world football than De Bruyne.
It is still possible to buy flags and scarves with the moniker of ‘CHAMPIONS’ emblazoned across the merchandise. That title has beenlost this year to Liverpool, instead reaching Europe’s top table and winning the FA Cup is all that matters. Pep Guardiola has insisted for weeks that every game is a “final” but City are used to performing when it matters.
It was a tale of two Norwegian strikers as Erling Haaland returned to the bench after a month out, while the more significant news was Jørgen Strand Larsen’s absence for Wolves, having scored six in as many games to help secure 18 points for Vítor Pereira’s side. The two No 9s had pre-match chat on the sidelines, with Haaland tellingly not partaking in the warm-up.
De Bruyne, playing his penultimate home game for City, was given freedom to roam from a central position as the hosts looked to dominate possession. Ilkay Gündogan and the Belgian rotated who was down the middle, while Omar Marmoush and Jérémy Doku attacked the flanks, looking to get in behind Wolves’ wing-banks, while creating space in the middle.
Under Pereira, Wolves are very different from the brittle team that started the season under Gary O’Neil. They have won six in a row and were not intimidated by City, keeping things tight and every man working for everyone else in gold to limit the hosts all over the pitch.
Wolves also have pace going forward and should have taken the lead when Matheus Cunha slipped a pass through a flat-footed City defence for Jean-Ricner Bellegarde to run on to. The winger raced into the box where was joined by Marshall Munetsi and, having drawn out Ederson, he only needed to lay it to the Zimbabwean but overhit the pass, leaving the midfielder desperately stretching to reach it as the ball dribbled out for a goal kick.
City were living dangerously, unable to deal with Wolves’ fast break. Rayan Aït-Nouri had two chances to open the scoring, first hitting the post and then Josko Gvardiol on the line with the rebound. City were enjoying the possession but Wolves looked the more dangerous, although Nico O’Reilly eventually tested José Sá after the half-hour mark with a rising shot.
De Bruyne made Wolves pay and there was never a more popular scorer. Gündogan played in Doku, who showed off his quick feet, pulling the ball for his compatriot mid-slip, allowing the City captain to place into the bottom corner and instigated a chorus of “There’s only one Kevin De Bruyne” around the ground.
There was no new contract offer to De Bruyneand he will leavewhen his current deal expires in the summer. No one doubts that he still has the ability to influence games but Guardiola and City need players who can do so regularly. De Bruyne’s body has let him down in recent years but his trademark energy and vigour have returned for his swansong, able to offer the bursting runs and skills that have traumatised opponents over the past decade.
Wolves have their talisman planning a summer exit but Cunha will cost a lot more than De Bruyne. Without Strand Larsen he was playing as a central striker and came close to proving his clinical prowess by thrashing a shot against Ederson’s post, watching head in hands as it bounced back out.
It was a sign of how dangerous Wolves were despite having to play on the break. City were increasingly sloppy in possession, allowing the visitors to frequently counter. O’Reilly was hooked by Guardiola for repeatedly giving the ball away, as Manuel Akanji was brought on to strengthen a susceptible back four.
Wolves’ fight for parity almost took a huge blow when Aït-Nouri tried to perform a 360 degree turn, only to put his studs into Bernardo Silva’s ankle. VAR took a lengthy look but it was deemed no further action was required from the referee Peter Bankes, much to the wing-back’s relief.
De Bruyne departed with seven minutes to go, giving fans a penultimate opportunity of a standing ovation. He deserved the latest one for his performance on the night, not just for the sake of nostalgia. There is still plenty of time for that to come as City prepare to bid farewell to one of their heroes but he will leave with plenty of memories.