Manchester City booked their place in the Champions League as they said farewell to Kevin De Bruyne for the final time
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Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City applauds the fans after his final game for the team, following the Premier League match between Fulham and City
Kevin De Bruyne came off the bench late on in Manchester City's win over Fulham
Who doesn't love a day in the sun? Manchester City have had many before, including at Fulham, and on the last day of a disappointing Premier League campaign they did enough to enjoy another jaunt.
Two thousand, eight hundred Blues rocked up at Craven Cottage to say one final goodbye to Kevin De Bruyne with masks, chants and signs all dedicated to him as he signs off from the club where he has won it all. Pep Guardiola only named him on the bench after his Etihad farewell in midweek, although spending an afternoon chatting to his good mate Nathan Ake while soaking up whatever applause came his way before a late cameo looked a nice way to go.
De Bruyne is definitely off, but this could have been the last game for several others in the City squad ahead of a summer rebuild that will involve several high-profile incomings in the transfer market. Guardiola has said the board agrees with him over the need to avoid a big squad, so there will have to be exits.
Jack Grealish will surely be one of those after being left out of the squad entirely for this game, topping off a miserable 2025 where he has started just one league game - against relegated Leicester City. Some would fairly argue the 18 months that came before it weren't great either.
James McAtee was left out of a third successive squad and should finally get a move this summer, while there is uncertainty around others left out for both this game and recent weeks. Then there are those who made sure to mark the day whether they are staying or not.
Ilkay Gundogan scored an unbelievably good goal to open the scoring in this game, smashing in an overhead kick after Matheus Nunes had tried to chip the goalkeeper. Not a bad time for Gundogan's first league goal since April 2023, as the man who lifted City's first Champions League a few months later ensured that City will be back in it next year whether they keep him in their squad or choose to sell despite him triggering a contract extension.
City were all over Fulham for the opening half hour, the away fans jubilantly singing about Ruben Amorim's misery at United while the hosts struggled to put a pass together. Gundogan's goal gave them the platform to take further control of the game and make it safe.
As if they didn't believe they were in a contest because of Fulham's start though, City were surprised when Marco Silva's side suddenly started to pose a threat. Ederson, another who could well be off in summer, was forced to make two excellent saves in the first half to keep the scores level.
City were unnerved, with January signing Nico Gonzalez having to tell his teammates to all calm down when Gundogan won a free-kick and passed it straight back to an opponent. Not for the first time this season, the Blues were threatening to blow a position of control.
This weird cat-and-mouse, and the actually jeopardy in the game, continued in the second half despite scores elsewhere suggesting City's top-five finish was secure right up to the point where Gundogan drew a foul from Sasa Lukic in the penalty box with 20 minutes to go.
As the away end shouted for Ederson to be allowed to take it, Ruben Dias held it for Haaland to slot in his 31st goal of the season and first since returning from injury. The Poznans started in the sunshine and all there was left to do was to welcome De Bruyne onto his stage for one final time.
It came with just five minutes to go, but the applause that all of Craven Cottage gave should stay with the Belgian as he remembers his time in English football. A player who has made it look so easy for so long enjoyed one final stroll.
Every City player, Fulham player and match official made their way to him at full-time, wanting to pay their respects to one of the greatest ever. Then it was over to the City end with arms outstretched and tears in his eyes for a fitting farewell.
As De Bruyne heads off into the sunset, City need to make sure they put this season behind them if this great team are not to go the same way.
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