Kevin De Bruyne offered a resounding response to questions over his Manchester City future with a composed finish that secured a 1-0 win over Wolves at the Etihad on Friday night.
The 33-year-old, who is out of contract at the end of the season and has battled injuries over the past year, proved decisive once again. He calmly slotted home in the 35th minute after a dazzling solo run from Jeremy Doku, keeping City’s hopes of Champions League qualification firmly on track.
“I think I’ve shown that I can still play here,” De Bruyne said after the match. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t have done what I’ve done in these last four or five weeks.”
Wolves, who arrived in Manchester on a six-match winning streak, were far from passive. Jean-Ricner Bellegarde squandered an early chance, and Rayan Ait-Nouri struck the post before half-time. After the break, Matheus Cunha also hit the woodwork as City weathered a period of pressure.
Despite the narrow margin, Guardiola praised his side’s grit. “We found a way to win,” he said. “Sometimes it’s not about perfection—it’s about character.”
As full-time approached, the Etihad crowd rose to applaud De Bruyne, aware this may be the Belgian’s final run of games in sky blue. With three fixtures remaining, City remain in the hunt for European qualification—carried, once again, by the brilliance of their captain.
