Kevin De Bruyne
Kevin De Bruyne was at the heart of everything good about Man City’s win over Nottingham Forest
Pep Guardiola was clear that Kevin De Bruyne alone would not solve Manchester City’s problems but there is little doubting the difference the Belgium midfielder makes when he is fit and firing.
De Bruyne’s long-awaited return to the starting XI was just the shot in the arm the ailing Premier League champions needed on a night when they rediscovered a little of their old swagger to end a seven-match winless streak and disperse some of the storm clouds in the process.
Things may not have turned out quite so well for De Bruyne and City had a sloppy misplaced pass from the Belgian been capitalised on by Chris Wood on the half-hour mark. With nine league goals to his name already this season, the New Zealand striker looked certain to draw Nottingham Forest level and cancel out Bernardo Silva’s early finish as he galloped through on goal.
Kevin De Bruyne almost assists... Chris Wood! 😅
In his form, the Forest man should be levelling#PLonPrime #MCINFO pic.twitter.com/yPJPZtRFXn
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) December 4, 2024
But Wood dragged his shot wide and De Bruyne would make the most of his reprieve just a minute later when he lashed home a bullet of a shot into the top corner after finding himself in acres of space in the penalty area. On such moments can games – and maybe even seasons – turn.
Guardiola will certainly hope he can keep his Belgian maestro fit and available for the foreseeable future. Now 33, the midfielder may be past his prime, but there are still few players like him in the Premier League who can bend a game to their will when the mood takes them. And Forest were on the wrong end of what felt like De Bruyne unloading weeks, months even, of pent-up frustration.
Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher had hinted at a rift between Guardiola and De Bruyne in the wake of City’s 2-0 defeat at Liverpool on Sunday after the player had been limited to five appearances from the substitutes’ bench over the past month.
But the reality is De Bruyne’s injury problems have required careful management and if such TLC gets him to the point where he can continue to consistently have this kind of impact on games then Guardiola’s approach will be more than justified.
By the time the Belgian left the pitch in the 74th minute to familiar chants of “Oh Kevin De Bruyne” with City 3-0 up, Guardiola’s mind might briefly have been catapulted to a week back when his side blew such a lead against Feyenoord in the Champions League. But, while not completely free of one or two anxious moments, this was still their most purposeful and cohesive performance since a 5-0 trouncing of Sparta Prague on October 23 and it was not just De Bruyne who was responsible for that.
A goal to go with his assist!
Kevin De Bruyne back to his best for Man City 👏#PLonPrime #MCINFO pic.twitter.com/7snxvQhDRI
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) December 4, 2024
Guardiola had issued a call to arms to the likes of Jeremy Doku, Bernardo and Jack Grealish to step it up and start delivering more. And the manager will be pleased all three heeded his words.
Bernardo and Doku both got on the scoresheet while Grealish, who has often looked exiled on the wing, revelled in a central midfield role and the opportunity to get on the ball far more. It was a welcome change to see the England midfielder constantly demanding the ball and driving with it from central positions. It has worked for England under Lee Carsley and City were all the better for it. Grealish – given a rousing reception when replaced late on – has certainly given Guardiola encouragement to continue the experiment at Crystal Palace on Saturday in the continuation of another tricky run of games.
Bernardo, too, appeared reenergised against Forest, welcoming the return of De Bruyne with whom he dovetailed so well, and a fine goal will do Doku’s confidence the world of good. Released down the left by Erling Haaland, the Belgium winger darted inside Nikola Milenkovic before letting rip with a thumping drive as the ball flew into the far side of the net.
That finesse finish 🤩
Jeremy Doku has Pep Guardiola's side on track for a massive win #PLonPrime #MCINFO pic.twitter.com/tGIx739I04
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) December 4, 2024
As pleasing as the three goals will have been for Guardiola, the City manager was also delighted to see his team keep a clean sheet for the first time for six weeks. This was not a stress-free night for Guardiola. He looked ready to explode at one point late in the first period when Haaland twice lost possession in quick succession and he must have had a knot in the pit of his stomach when that stray pass from De Bruyne behind Ruben Dias sent Wood away. Similarly, when Gundogan was muscled off the ball moments after De Bruyne had taken his leave and Anthony Elanga fired narrowly over, the Catalan struggled to hide his emotions.
Nuno Espirito Santo will rue that Wood miss but his team – while dangerous at times breaking forward – gave City too much time and space and were punished for it.
City led when Gundogan got to the byline after the visitors had been unpicked far too easily and stood up a cross that De Bruyne met with a powerful header. Bernardo turned home the ball on the goal line. Indeed, the night might have been more comfortable still for City had Josko Gvardiol made more of two outstanding chances within the space of six first-half minutes. First he headed wide from close range after a fine City move and then pulled a shot wide of the post after being sent clear one on one by Haaland. Notionally a left back, the Croat spent most of the game occupying positions a No 10 would ordinarily look to find himself in but looked a little less certain defensively at times, not least when Jota Silva knocked him off the ball before picking out Morgan Gibbs-White who drew a fine save from Stefan Ortega, again preferred to Ederson in goal.
After a run of four successive league defeats – and seven games without a victory – City have rediscovered the lost art of winning. Guardiola will hope it is the start of a marked upturn in form. De Bruyne’s return will only boost the chances of that.