As Kevin De Bruyne exited the pitch after being substituted for Rico Lewis with 16 minutes left in Manchester City’s 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest, Pep Guardiola warmly embraced the Belgian, a gesture resembling a proud father congratulating his son for a job well done.
De Bruyne responded with a satisfying smile before heading to the bench, his performance a resounding answer to recent speculation about tension between him and Guardiola. Just a day earlier, Guardiola had dismissed claims from Sky Sports pundits Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville suggesting a rift, questioning why he would sideline a player capable of delivering brilliance in his star-studded squad.
Making his first Premier League match since August, De Bruyne proved his manager right. On a night City needed to end their seven-game wineless streak, the Belgian was instrumental. His header set up an eight-minute opener for Bernado Silva, and later, he scored a stunning goal, drifting away from Jeremy Doku before slotting a precise shot into the corner.
Positioned centrally alongside Jack Grealish, De Bruyne orchestrated City’s attack with his usual finesse, contributing to several key opportunities. He played 74 minutes – the most since completing a full match against Brentford on September 14 – before being substituted. As he sat on the bench, City fans celebrated his selection as Man of the Match.
“I am so happy he is back,” said Guardiola. “He played 75 fantastic minutes.
“He deserves the best because he’s a lovely guy and has been massively important for so many years since he arrived.”
De Bruyne’s return has reinforced his influence, with City now unbeaten in their last 31 Premier League matches he has started. During that run, he has been involved in 25 goals ( nine goals, sixteen assists). Speaking after the match, De Bruyne dismissed any claims of conflict with Guardiola. “There have never been issues between me and Pep. He knows I’ve been struggling. It’s painful and uncomfortable”, De Bruyne said. “Hopefully I can get back to my body with not much pain and then I’ll be fine.”
However, Guardiola tempered his praise with caution, mindful of De Bruyne’s fitness. “He fought a lot and he prepared himself,” he said. “He is back to his physicality. The minutes he played at Anfield were really good”, Guardiola noted, but warned against overexerting his star midfielder too soon.
“Last season he was out for many months, this season as well. We will see how he recovers after a long time injured and how he feels in three days”, Guardiola added.
De Bruyne’s stats underline his value: this was the third Premier League game this season where he recorded at least four shots and created four chances. Despite starting only five league games, only Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka has achieved this feat more often.
Micah Richards, former City defender, hailed De Bruyne’s quality on BBC’s Match of the Day saying, “He is a top-quality player and one of the best we have seen. He always manages to find space on the pitch.”
“He has been integral to Man City’s success over a number of years,” added former City boss Stuart Pearce on Amazon Prime.
“He is the go-to player that sets Erling Haaland alight with his passing. He creates goals, he scores goals.
“If you were to pick one player out over the last eight or nine years De Bruyne would be at the top of almost everyone’s list.”
The victory wasn’t without setbacks, though. Manuel Akanji suffered an injury that could sideline him for the weekend clash against Crystal Palace, while Nathan Ake’s recurring hamstring problem appears serious. Guardiola admitted, “It doesn’t look good. I feel bad for Nathan.”
For both De Bruyne and City, the road to full recovery and form is delicate. With City trailing Premier League leaders Liverpool by nine points and needing results to secure a Champions League top-eight finish, Guardiola must carefully manage his team’s resources. Nonetheless, De Bruyn’s performance was a vital step forward, much like City’s victory itself.
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