When Manchester City needed inspiration it was De Bruyne who stepped up to fire City to victory | OneFootball

In the 28th minute of their 5-2 win over Crystal Palace yesterday, Manchester City were inches away from falling 3-nil behind. Eberechi Eze had a goal ruled out for offside. You felt that it could’ve been curtains for Pep Guardiola’s side if they fell 3 goals behind Oliver Glasner’s side inside the game’s opening half-hour. At that point Manchester City needed someone to step up and provide leadership and inspiration for their cause. Up stepped Kevin De Bruyne. He did at the Etihad yesterday which he has done countless times before. He put his team on his back in their hour of need.

First, Kevin De Bruyne made it 2-1 with a superb free kick in the 33rd minute. His goal lifted the atmosphere at the Etihad. He played a key role in Omar Marmoush’s equaliser three minutes later. Manchester City entered halftime with the ascendency in the game at the interval. Two minutes after the restart De Bruyne set up Mateo Kovacic to make it 3-2. From that point onwards, Palace were beaten, and Pep Guardiola’s side ran out 5-2 winners. But at the heart of City’s revival was Kevin De Bruyne. We’ve seen that before and we saw it again yesterday.

Players like Kevin De Bruyne have the ability to not only inspire their teammates but lift an entire stadium. The Manchester City legend did just that yesterday. He willed his team back into yesterday’s match. Although they could’ve gone 3-nil down in the 28th minute, Pep Guardiola’s side weren’t playing badly. They just needed a goal to spark to life. De Bruyne provided it and the rest is history. But even as the curtain draws on his City career De Bruyne’s influence on his team continues to shine through. Performances like the one he provided against an in-form Palace side are becoming less frequent. But they are no less powerful and influential than what we witnessed yesterday.

Kevin De Bruyne is determined to help Manchester City secure Champions League qualification before he departs the club.

In an interview published on mancity.com Kevin De Bruyne explained that he is determined to make sure his team qualifies for next season’s Champions League. Despite his exit from the club looming on the horizon he is determined to do his job for his team. Speaking after his inspirational performance in City’s win he explained: “I want to go away with a Champions League place for this team because they deserve it. We’ve been in the Champions League for the nine, ten 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.”

Manchester City needed a lift yesterday and it was Kevin De Bruyne who provided it. We have seen him do this many times before during his time at the club. But given that he is in the closing stages of his City career yesterday’s performance from the Belgian international felt a bit more special. It was a reminder of what De Bruyne is capable of when he is fully fit.