As Kevin De Bruyne said farewell to the Etihad Stadium, Manchester City unleashed a glimpse of what their midfield could look like without him. And without Florian Wirtz.
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Tuesday was a special night at the Etihad
Tuesday was a special night at the Etihad
On Kevin De Bruyne's big night, his replacement might have emerged.
With Manchester City taking the decision to part ways with De Bruyne, the occasion was imposed on him. But as the big day arrived, De Bruyne looked intent on signing off with one last moment of glory.
His effort onto the underside of the bar from five yards out was unfortunate, however, and despite the endeavour City still had a game to win. Remember, this was a crucial fixture in their bid to qualify for the Champions League - which is now just one point away.
As De Bruyne was left to wonder exactly how he rattled the crossbar, Omar Marmoush was revelling in his stunning strike that kissed the post on its way into the postage stamp in Kepa Arrizabalaga's goal. After his costly penalty miss at Wembley, this was a strike full of all the feeling he will have been building up over the past four days.
And it was a brilliant reminder of what City's future looks like without De Bruyne. He loves playing at the Etihad and is better off the flanks on the evidence of his first few months in Manchester. As far as being a direct replacement for De Bruyne, Marmoush is not it. But nobody is.
Pep Guardiola will have to piece together the best bits of De Bruyne and find players who can replicate them in their own way. Marmoush's driving run and fierce strike was a shade of De Bruyne in his pomp and he will be an important part of the puzzle of replacing De Bruyne.
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Guardiola made a beeline for Marmoush at full-time, offering some on-pitch tactical advice as he looks to find the right place in his XI for Marmoush.
Alternatively, the Blues will look elsewhere to Florian Wirtz who had been seen as a 'De Bruyne' successor and liked by City but deemed too expensive this week. In truth, De Bruyne is a priceless player so there is nobody on the market like him. They will hope Phil Foden can return from a frustrating season to take his own role in that succession plan.
By full time, Rodri, Nico Gonzalez and Marmoush were in a midfield supported by Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva - the latter two combining for a fine goal earlier to roll back the years. Even without Wirtz and De Bruyne, the future of the City midfield looks alive and well, even if it will miss a player who cannot be replaced.
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