After Kevin De Bruyne’s double in the 4-2 win at Crystal Palace took the Belgian to 100 Manchester City goals and maintained his club’s chase to retain the Premier League title, Pep Guardiola garlanded his star man with praise.
“The numbers, presence, consistency have been amazing,” said the manager of De Bruyne, who scored City’s spectacular equaliser in his 250th Premier League game for the club to cancel out Jean-Philippe Mateta’s early counterattacking opener before later adding their fourth. “He is one of the best players in the history of Man City. The goals, assists, the lot. What can I say? The first goal is unbelievable and so is the assist for Erling [Haaland].”
In scoring City’s third, Haaland ended a drought that stretched back to 6 March after both he and De Bruyne were restored to the starting lineup, having sat out the midweek 4-1 defeat of Aston Villa.
That game’s hat-trick hero, Phil Foden, played no part as Guardiola rotated his squad ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final with Real Madrid.
Guardiola described the strain trying to repeat last season’s Treble-winning campaign. John Stones was another returnee from injury and his mistake led to Mateta’s goal, while Josko Gvardiol’s withdrawal at half-time added to his side’s injury list.
“The difference is because we have more injured players than last season,” said Guardiola. “If we had Kyle [Walker] and Nathan [Aké] it would give more time for John to recover. We want to fight, we are going to try but it’s difficult to fight for all competitions. I live these things a few times, to arrive in the latter stages, I am lucky for that but you need everyone fresh and complete.”
“We have injured players, cannot sustain in a long time playing three days, three days, three days. At the same time, there’s an incredible mindset from the players. They prove that to us over many years, and every week is one week less to the end of the season.”
De Bruyne said his performance had been inspired by watching Foden’s recent match-winning displays. “I don’t expect to just be given my place,” he said. “If I don’t perform well, I won’t play. Phil Foden has been amazing this season so deserves it but it keeps me on my toes.”
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Palace’s manager, Oliver Glasner, said: “For me it’s a little bit difficult, because when you lose 4-2 I’m never satisfied or happy, but I could see many positive things today in our game.”