Kevin de Bruyne seeks fitting Man City farewell in FA Cup final

LONDON – Kevin de Bruyne can add another honour to his haul as Manchester City’s most decorated player of all time with a fitting farewell in the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace on May 17.

The Belgian’s trophy-littered decade in Manchester will come to a conclusion at the end of this English Premier League season, and Wembley’s showpiece is the 33-year-old’s final chance to lift silverware at the club where he grew into one of world’s best players.

A six-time Premier League winner, the playmaker could add a third FA Cup to his five League Cups and 2023 Champions League title with City.

De Bruyne has expressed his “surprise” that the club did not seek to extend his stay, filled with the belief that he can still perform at the highest level.

He rolled back the years when City rallied from 2-0 down to thrash Palace 5-2 just in April with a goal and an assist.

City will be hoping for more of the same to give him a fitting farewell and save some face from a season to forget for Pep Guardiola’s men.

After an unprecedented run of four consecutive Premier League titles, City are 18 points adrift of champions Liverpool and embroiled in a battle just to finish in the top five to secure a place in next season’s Champions League.

De Bruyne’s decline has played a factor in City’s downturn.

Of his 108 goals and 177 assists for the club in 419 appearances, only six and eight respectively have come this season.

However, he remains “irreplaceable” due to his impact in City’s rise to being the dominant force in English football, according to the club’s prolific striker Erling Haaland.

“To get the balls from him is a dream. It has been really special playing with him. Such a joy, and I am going to do everything I can to have this joy in the last few games,” said the Norwegian hotshot.

“The future will be different with different players. When Kevin leaves we will need someone to replace him, although Kevin is irreplaceable in so many ways.”

Guardiola has appeared almost apologetic for overlooking de Bruyne at times this season as he searched for solutions to fill the gaps in City’s ageing midfield.

“The gratitude I have, we have, is huge. Kevin is the player in the history of the club with the most titles, and that defines what Kevin has done with us,” said the City manager.

Asked about the FA Cup final, he added: “(Palace are) a fantastic team... More than a year with Oliver (Glasner) working with the same players.

“The FA Cup is an honour, a privilege, the third time in a row being there to the final. We have to perform well, we travel to London to win the title.”

A giant mural of de Bruyne alongside his trophy haul as a City player was unveiled in Manchester city centre on May 15. Guardiola has suggested a statue outside the club’s Etihad Stadium is also just a matter of time.

But after a decade most characterised by a relentless thirst to keep on winning, the most fitting tribute would be for de Bruyne to go out with another medal around his neck.

“The whole team only has one thought and that’s to try and get the trophy and to make the day special for Kevin,” said City midfielder Mateo Kovacic.

“For what he’s done, he deserves to leave like a champion which he obviously is. He is a massive figure in City’s success, and he will be remembered as one of the best.”

Twice FA Cup runners-up, Palace have never won a major trophy in their 119-year history and stand in the way of de Bruyne and City.

A victory would also secure entry to one of Europe’s major club competitions for the first time in the Eagles’ history with a place in the Europa League at stake.

Glasner has urged his men to be calm.

“I feel it’s important not to do anything special or specific just because it’s a big game. The message will be to stick to our strengths, stick to the way we want to play and stick to what has worked,” he said.

“Of course, we will have analysed Manchester City. But we know what we can do and what we want to do, and we’ll try and adjust what we feel we need to in order to get the right result.” AFP