Pep Guardiola said that no player can reproduce the “incredible” Kevin de Bruyne after the decreasing midfielder of Manchester City scored the leading role on Saturday in the 5-2 victory against Crystal Palace.
De Bruyne, who confirmed last week that he would leave the club at the end of the season, scored a free kick that started the fight of City from two goals and later delivered a template for Mateo Kovacic in the game.
“The gratitude I have for him is huge,” said City Boss Guardiola.
“De Bruyne is incredible and I know that he can do what he can deliver. I am happy because he helps us. With the ball he was so wise and then the goals and the templates. He helped us to win the game.”
Kevin de Bruyne was a man of the game in the victory of Manchester City against Crystal Palace on Saturday. Lee Parker – Camerasport via Getty Images
The 33-year-old said that he was not sure where his career was led as soon as he leaves the city and revealed that his family was “a bit of fear” of the future.
The playmaker was associated with a switch to the MLS or the Saudi Pro league, but suggested that he had to decide his next step.
“I've been here for so long, my family was here for 10 years, my children were born in Manchester and it was all her life here – it will be something else for her,” said de Bruyne after the last pipe on Saturday.
De Bruynes Premier League Seasons
Kevin de Bruyne (2019-20) is connected to Thierry Henry (2002-03) for most templates in a single Premier League campaign (20).
| GP | G | A | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | 18 | 4 | 10 |
| 2022-23 | 32 | 7 | 16 |
| 2021-22 | 30 | 15 | 8 |
| 2020-21 | 25 | 6 | 12 |
| 2019-20 | 35 | 13 | 20 |
| 2018-19 | 19 | 2 | 2 |
| 2017-18 | 37 | 8 | 16 |
| 2016-17 | 36 | 6 | 18 |
| 2015-16 | 25 | 7 | 9 |
| 2013-14 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
“I think they are a little scared. It's a bit unknown because we don't know what will happen at the moment, but I would like to play good football as I did today. I'm fine. If I can play football and my family is happy, I'm good.”
De Bruyne scored 71 goals in 10 seasons and scored 121 templates – and Guardiola knows that it will be difficult to replace his talisman.
A youthful, James Mcateee, made a name for himself on Saturday with a goal, but the Spanish coach believes that it is too early to put too much pressure on his shoulders.
“Nobody can do what Kevin did,” added Guardiola. “I don't want to put pressure on Macca for a second [McAtee]He didn't play for many minutes, but I know the quality he has in the last third. He scored a goal that he could have scored four. “
De Bruyne said he had the feeling that he still had a lot left in the tank.
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“It was a hard year,” the Belgian international told TNT Sports. “A hernia was not fun, but now I would say that I have basically been painless in the past six weeks.
“Playing with pain was difficult, but now I feel free. I can do a lot of training sessions and I have the feeling that I can do a good job.
“I don't know what's going to happen, but I want to continue so that we can see where I can end.”
After the Rout, City is fourth in the Premier League on Saturday, while Palace is 11th place. Both sides are located in the FA Cup semi -final.
Information from the Associated Press contributed to this report
