KDB admits Foden's form has 'kept him on his toes'

Foden shone in a central role as De Bruyne sat out the first five months of the season with a hamstring injury and hit a hat-trick with the Belgian on the bench for Wednesday's 4-1 thrashing of Aston Villa.

The roles were reversed at Selhurst Park as Foden was handed a rest by Pep Guardiola and De Bruyne inspired a fightback after City fell behind on three minutes.

"It's been an untypical season. Being out for five months, sometimes I feel good, sometimes I need a bit of time for my body," said De Bruyne. "I don't expect to be just given my place. If I don't perform well I won't play. Phil has been amazing this season, he keeps me on my toes."

Just three days ahead of City's trip to Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals, Guardiola took the chance to shuffle his pack again. Manuel Akanji, Bernardo Silva and Jeremy Doku were dropped to the bench alongside Foden.

"Today Kevin won the game with his actions, goals, assists, his talent," said Guardiola. "Today we won (because of) him."

 

April 6, 2024

There was little doubt over the outcome once Rico Lewis pounced on some slack Palace defending from Jack Grealish's deflected cross to make it 2-1 on 47 minutes.

Grealish's season has been repeatedly disrupted by injury but his return to fitness and form could be a vital component in City's quest to retain the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup.

Grealish was also involved in his side's third goal, picking out De Bruyne, whose cross was touched in by Haaland for a much-needed goal for the Norwegian. Haaland has 30 for the season in all competitions but had failed to find the net in 12 of his previous 17 games on his return from a foot injury that kept him out for two months.

Having curled one in on his right foot, De Bruyne then blasted in a piledriver with his left to make it 100 goals in 372 games since joining City in 2015. At that point, City seemed set to win by the four-goal margin they needed to go above Liverpool on goal difference.