Kevin De Bruyne failed to finish on the personal high he might have craved but Omar Marmoush’s tribute act against Bournemouth ensured Manchester City moved up to third to keep the route to Champions League qualification in their own hands.
Bernardo Silva and Nico González finished the job after De Bruyne had missed an open net but it was enough to alleviate the tension. The pressure momentarily increased after Mateo Kovacic was dismissed but that evaporated as both teams finished with 10 men on the pitch, allowing the City supporters to send De Bruyne on his way in style.
De Bruyne started in his 421st appearance for the club with the captain’s armband wrapped around his biceps, and was accompanied by his three children when he walked out of the tunnel to be greeted by a 60ft tifo depicting his image.
The Belgian had been first off the team coach as he received a guard of honour from his adoring fans for one final time. Anyone that had purchased a “17 De Bruyne” shirt in the past decade seemed to have found it at the back of the wardrobe, wearing it with pride, whether it still fit or not. Homemade placards and De Bruyne masks were not in short supply.
The best way to commemoratethe midfielder’s exitwill be leaving with the club ready for another season at Europe’s top table. Yet the only man on show guaranteed to be in the Champions League next season was the Bournemouth centre-back Dean Huijsen, who willjoin Real Madrid in the summer for £50m.
His current employer had witnessed the success of Southampton and Crystal Palace in recent weeks and defended deep to give City as little space as possible in which to create.
After failing to score in their past two matches, the duck was broken with a De Bruyne-esque rocket from 30 yards into the top corner.
The firepower, however, was not provided by the Belgian but instead Marmoush, who used a pocket of space to his advantage, getting the ball out of his feet and smashing a shot that dipped and swerved, bringing gasps before igniting the atmosphere.
The moment everyone had been waiting for came in the 25th minute when Marmoush burst down the left and slid a pass along the six-yard line to De Bruyne to tap in to an empty net. In his previous 141Premier Leaguehome games for City, he would have completed the task with his eyes closed. On this occasion, his focus went for a split second and he somehow pinged the ball against the bar.
De Bruyne walked away head in hands, knowing he would never receive a better chance for the perfect finish. When his family in the stands watched it back, they visibly felt his pain too.
De Bruyne was allowed a sigh of relief when City worked the ball smartly in the vicinity of theBournemouthbox. Eventually Ilkay Gündogan outsmarted the Cherries with a clever touch, allowing him to pull the ball back for Silva to beat Kepa Arrizabalaga at the near post to give City the control of the match – and spot in the top five – they desperately desired.
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The crowd were boosted by Rodri warming up at the break after being named on the bench for the first time since suffering a cruciate ligament injury in September. Once the whistle went again, the match was subdued as it became an end-of-season affair, occasionally punctuated by chants of: “Oh Kevin De Bruyne”.
City were unflustered for long periods, only becoming concerned when Evanilson hit the post after a sweeping counter attack. Pep Guardiola’s side were in charge, dictating proceedings in a manner they have far too often failed to achieve as they once did in De Bruyne’s peak.
There was a party inside the Etihad Stadium until a wayward pass backwards from Josko Gvardiol was seized by Evanilson, who looked set to run through on goal, only to be pulled down by Mateo Kovacic. It was the end of Kovacic’s night as he was sent off for his indiscretion. It also meant a final standing ovation for De Bruyne as he was sacrificed for the more defensively-minded Nico González to help see the final 20 minutes or so through.
Bournemouth took pity and were themselves reduced to 10 men almost immediately afterwards when Lewis Cook flew off the ground and into González’s ankle, admittedly touching the ball on the way, but it was a reckless challenge.
There was no De Bruyne at the full-time whistle but Rodri came off the bench to much fanfare. One legend will depart but another is back and witnessed González’s fine solo goal, as well as Daniel Jebbison’s late consolation. A win at Fulham on Sunday will confirm the most important return: to the Champions League.