Kevin De Bruyne is preparing for his last cup final as a Manchester City player.
After 10 years, De Bruyne will bring his Man City career to an end this summer, and the plan is for the City legend to end his time in Manchester on a high.
Saturday’s FA Cup final will be the Belgian’s last in a Man City shirt, and should Pep Guardiola’s team overcome Crystal Palace at Wembley, it will be De Bruyne’s third FA Cup medal, and his 14th domestic trophy win overall (Six Premier Leagues, five EFL Cups and two FA Cups).
Mateo Kovacic thinks the FA Cup final will be emotional for De Bruyne, and the midfielder may even be angry, should a Troy Deeney claim play out at Wembley.
Photo by Neal Simpson/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
Photo by Neal Simpson/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
Troy Deeney thinks Kevin De Bruyne could be dropped for the FA Cup final
Pep Guardiola is not expected to go with his strongest Man City team for the FA Cup final with Crystal Palace as the Spanish coach has some big decisions to make ahead of Saturday’s contest.
Speaking about City’s potential line-up, Deeney has stated that he would not be surprised to see De Bruyne dropped after his performance against Southampton.
More Man City News
“I expect to see Marmoush come in. As you said, Foden was poor (against Southampton),” Deeney stated on talkSPORT.
“I’d expect a more agile midfield. I wouldn’t be surprised if Kevin got dropped, Kevin De Bruyne got dropped for that, and they work with Phil and Marmoush. Maybe, Doku is in there as well.”
De Bruyne has not been at his best this season, and his body’s inability to keep up with the English game is certainly a reason why Man City were willing to let the Belgian go this summer.
However, De Bruyne was excellent against Crystal Palace last month, and he has shown bits of brilliance in recent weeks. Therefore, there is no way Guardiola drops his captain for the FA Cup final
Photo by Lee Parker - CameraSport via Getty Images
Photo by Lee Parker – CameraSport via Getty Images
Troy Deeney thinks there is a blueprint to beating Man City
Many expect Man City to struggle against Crystal Palace on Saturday, with Jamie Carragher predicting the Eagles to lift the FA Cup at Wembley.
Deeney can also see Oliver Glasner’s team having success as the pundit believes there is a blueprint to beating Man City this season.
“I just think this is more about Palace get at that Man City backline. I worked the Southampton game at the weekend just gone, really poor from Man City, but for the first time in probably four or five years, it became too predictable,” Deeney said on talkSPORT.
“They were trying to do the same thing, and it just wasn’t working. So there’s a blueprint now on how to defend, but I think the difference between Palace and Southampton is Palace have got attacking players who will get after this Man City team.
“They are very expansive, they are very open, the pace of Eze and Ismaila Sarr, Mateta as well, they could cause people a lot of trouble.”
The FA Cup final is set to be a thrilling affair for the neutrals as the two teams have already produced very entertaining games this season, and Saturday promises to be another.