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Pep Guardiola admitted it would be “almost impossible” to replace Kevin De Bruyne but said it “cannot be possible” that the Belgian remains at 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 Guardiola’s side a victory over Wolves that moved them up to third in the table and strengthened their claim for a Champions League place.
The Belgian was named man of the match and again looked like he had plenty in the tank despite City’s decision not to offer him a new contract, much to the player’s dismay.
De Bruyne has to go – Guardiola
Asked if there was any chance 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’s been an incredible player, but the situation is what it is.”
Asked how he would try to replace someone who has been so instrumental in City’s many successes over recent years, Guardiola added: “It’s almost impossible to replace this kind of player, it’s not just the performances, it’s what he means to the hearts of our fans.
“The success we’ve 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’m happy that it is finishing that way and we have one more game in the Etihad.”
“Just say thank you” 🙏
Pep Guardiola says it’s 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 a top-five finish now lies in their own hands.
“In terms of reaching there [the Champions League places] the result was good,” said Guardiola. “Focus on the next nine points and if we make the nine then we will be there.”
Wolves push City all the way
It was far from a comfortable evening, though, with in-form Wolves causing the home side several problems with both Rayan Ait-Nouri and Matheus Cunha hitting the woodwork.
It was a first defeat in eight games for Vitor Pereira’s men and Guardiola was impressed.
He said: “They are an extraordinary team. The shape, the quality that they play, the physicality, the pace, really incredible team.
“We struggled, we suffered a lot with the chances that they had. We were fortunate like in some way we have not been this season. We were better after the goal and we did the simple things well. The result is massively important.”
Proud Pereira
Pereira had no qualms with his team’s display.
“In the end, that’s football,” he said of the defeat. “I am very proud of my team. I said that we can lose a game, but we can’t lose our identity, our courage, our ambition, our commitment and our team spirit.
“Today we showed all of that in our team. We were just missing the result.”
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