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Pep Guardiola admitted that it would be “almost impossible” to replace Kevin de Bruyne, but said “it cannot be possible” that the Belgian stay in Manchester City next season.
De Bruyne played his penultimate game in a city shirt at the Etihad stadium tonight and scored the only goal to give the Guardiola team a victory over the wolves that took them to third place at the table and strengthened their claim for a place in the Champions League.
The Belgian was appointed man of the game and again seemed that he had a lot in the tank despite the city’s decision not to offer him a new contract, to dismay of the player.
Bruyne has to leave – Guardiola
When asked if there was any possibility that he could stay beyond the end of the season, Guardiola told Sky Sports: “I want the best for Kevin, but it cannot be possible.
“We have done this for many, many years with him. He has been an incredible player, but the situation is what he is.”
When asked how he would try to replace someone who has been so instrumental in the many successes of the city in recent years, Guardiola added: “It is almost impossible to replace this type of player, they are not just the performances, it is what it means to the hearts of our fans.”
“The success we have had belongs to specific players and he is one of them.
“His contribution in the game against Crystal Palace when we were 2-0 down and he delivers and today the goal again. I am happy that he is finishing that way and we have one more game in the Etihad.”
“I just thank” 🙏
Pep Guardiola says it is impossible to replace Kevin de Bruyne ✨ pic.twitter.com/dfJVVMRGXG
– Sky Sports Premier League (@skysportSpl) May 2, 2025
The victory sees City Leapfrog Newcastle and an end among the top five is now in its own hands.
“In terms of getting there (the places in the Champions League), the result was good,” Guardiola said. “Grant in the next nine points and if we do the nine, we will be there.”
The wolves push the city all the way
However, it was far from a comfortable night, with wolves in a way that caused the local side several problems with Rayan Ait-Nouri and Matheus Cunha hitting the carpentry.
It was a first defeat in eight games for the men of Vitor Pereira and Guardiola was impressed.
He said: “They are an extraordinary team. The form, the quality they play, the physicality, the rhythm, the really incredible team.
“We fought, we suffered a lot with the possibilities of what they had. We were fortunate as in some way that we have not been this season. We were better after the goal and we did the simple things well. The result is greatly important.”
Proud Pereira
Pereira had no repairs with the exhibition of his team.
“In the end, that’s football,” he said about defeat. “I am very proud of my team. I said that we can lose a game, but we cannot lose our identity, our courage, our ambition, our commitment and our team spirit.
“Today we show all that in our team. It is only losing the result.”
