Manchester Metropolis 3-1 Bournemouth: Omar Marmoush hits stunner as Kevin De Bruyne bids farewell to Etihad

Kevin De Bruyne performed his ultimate residence recreation as Manchester Metropolis eased to a 3-1 win over Bournemouth to shut in on a top-five end.

Pep Guardiola mentioned pre-match that distractions would solely be dangerous to his aspect’s possibilities of securing Champions League soccer – neither De Bruyne’s Etihad farewell nor Rodri’s first look in a matchday squad since September ought to disturb the duty at hand.

FA Cup ultimate disappointment – simply three brief days in the past – was swiftly displaced by the top-five mission, as Omar Marmoush rifled a spectacular opener within the 14th minute and Bernardo Silva added a well-taken second – however not earlier than a evident De Bruyne miss, which he later dubbed “terrible”.

With a glittering profession in sky blue drawing to an imminent shut, the Belgian dominated many of the preamble, and drew audible gasps when hammering Marmoush’s pullback surprisingly onto the crossbar from shut vary.

Bournemouth barely participated within the first half however got here into the sport briefly after the break, Antoine Semenyo and Milos Kerkez probably the most threatening of the bunch – doing their possibilities of an enormous summer season transfer, with hyperlinks to Man Utd and Liverpool respectively, no hurt in any respect.

The guests, pretty flat all night, had been then buoyed by the sending off of Mateo Kovacic halfway via the second interval for hauling again Evanilson, just for Lewis Prepare dinner to see crimson for a reckless problem on Nico Gonzalez six minutes later. Gonzalez dealt due punishment by thundering a 3rd one minute earlier than the tip.

Guardiola’s aspect, who additionally welcomed again Rodri from an eight-month damage absence, capped a close-to-perfect night time by transferring third – regardless of having their clear sheet snatched away by Daniel Jebbison in stoppage time – two factors forward of rivals Newcastle, Chelsea and Aston Villa with one recreation to go, whereas the Cherries’ bid for eighth is over.

Guardiola units goal for PL finale

Man Metropolis boss Pep Guardiola:

“It’s a pity that against Southampton we couldn’t collect the points. Now it would be already done.

“On Sunday we now have a troublesome opponent [Fulham]. We go there to win to take the purpose we must be subsequent season within the Champions League.

“The most important thing was to win the game and we did it against an incredible opponent. They destroyed us in the Premier League in the first leg. The games are always good, we had chances, they had chances, it was open and the people enjoy.”

Becoming send-off for ‘King Kev’

The Metropolis boss was in tears as tributes had been paid to De Bruyne on the large display after the ultimate whistle.

Sergio Aguero, Fernandinho, Leroy Sane, Pablo Zabaleta, Joe Hart, Riyad Mahrez and Vincent Kompany had been among the many membership greats and former gamers to characteristic within the montage.

Talking on the pitch alongside his spouse and youngsters, De Bruyne advised followers: “Manchester is home, Manchester is where these little kids are born.

“I came here with my wife to stay for a long time, I didn’t expect to be here 10 years.

“We have received every part, we made the membership greater, and now they [team-mates] are going to take over. This staff may have extra success, that is for certain.

“I know it’s been a bit of a tough year for us but I think this team deserves all the support from you guys. I know they are pushing really hard and this team will be back next year fighting for all the titles.”

Peerless De Bruyne embodies Metropolis success

Sky Sports activities’ Laura Hunter:

As a tearful Kevin De Bruyne bade farewell to Man Metropolis followers, hoping they’d keep in mind him “with joy”, the grasp midfielder also can log off comforted by the very fact he is leaving his aspect in respectable form. This outcome places Metropolis on the point of Champions League qualification, needing solely some extent on the ultimate day in opposition to Fulham to make sure. The succession line of expertise is not dangerous both.

In fact Metropolis’s trophyless marketing campaign will not be remembered fondly. Towards the backdrop of such a stupendous four-year run as undisputed champions, how might it? However the finish to such a dominant dynasty will little doubt mark the beginning of one other.

De Bruyne has been the embodiment of Metropolis’s supremacy – a participant higher than all his friends, taking part in for the very best staff in fashionable Premier League historical past. Hopefully, wherever his subsequent transfer takes him, he’ll all the time be considered that approach.

De Bruyne: An unbelievable journey

Man Metropolis midfielder Kevin De Bruyne:

“It’s been unbelievable to have the 10 years that I’ve had over here. It’s been an unbelievable ride, an absolute pleasure.

“I wished to carry pleasure to folks, play offensive soccer, artistic, that’s the reason I’m on the pitch and I need to have enjoyable. I believe we had a number of enjoyable over the ten years.

“It was a joy working really hard and creating something which brought the club much better than it was before. I’m super proud.”

Story of the match in stats…

What’s developing within the Premier League?

Sky Sports activities to point out 215 reside PL video games from subsequent season

From subsequent season, Sky Sports activities’ Premier League protection will improve from 128 matches to a minimum of 215 video games solely reside.

And 80 per cent of all televised Premier League video games subsequent season are on Sky Sports activities.