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Manchester City vs Bournemouth – Pep Guardiola on Kevin De Bruyne Last Dance On the Etihad Stadium, Farewell Ceremony Details, and More

Guardiola on De Bruyne’s Last Dance and City’s Push for Champions League Qualification

image via - @ManCity/ X

Manchester City, who looked invincible this season, were seen stumbling throughout the 2024/25 campaign. After an early exit from the UCL and falling behind in the Premier League, Pep Guardiola and his team suffered a major setback in the defeat to Crystal Palace in the FA Cup 2025 Final. With their only chance to qualify being to clinch a top-five spot in the league, the Cityzens will face Bournemouth in their last home game of the season.

Guardiola, after reflecting on this season as his toughest, will see some departures at the end of the summer. With Kevin De Bruyne set to depart, the Spanish manager praised his legacy at the club ahead of the final game. De Bruyne is also set to receive a ceremonial farewell as he will play in front of his home fans for the last time.

We wish to remind all fans to stay in their seats after the match so we can say farewell to one of the Club’s greatest ever players – Kevin De Bruyne. Further details of the plans can be found here – https://t.co/I8JuKGULMK pic.twitter.com/pYac2cPGLz
— Man City Fan Support (@ManCityHelp) May 20, 2025

‘We Have To Move Forward’ – Pep Guardiola on KDB Departing From Manchester City

Being the heart of possibly Manchester City’s most successful decade in history, De Bruyne was called hard to replace by Guardiola. Talking about his legacy and the future without De Bruyne, Guardiola in his pre-match interview said:

“Maybe it can be positive. The emotions in something special for all of them, they can do it. So yeah, it can be positive. I’m happy with the way he is playing. The relationship is still completely the same.”

“There are players that are difficult to replace for many reasons, we know that. But the season we have done is what we have done. We can’t deny it, and of course, we have to move forward.”

De Bruyne will go down as one of the greatest midfielders in the Premier League. With some arguing if there should be a statue of him outside Etihad, the Belgian will surely leave a mark among the fans.

Ahead of his farewell ceremony, De Bruyne expressed mixed feelings going on to the pitch as he said: “I don’t know how I am going to feel. I don’t know how I am going to feel before or after with my family and all of that kind of stuff,”.

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Manchester City announced a ceremony to bid farewell to De Bruyne. The presentation will include a series of activities with a guard of honour from management, staff and players, ahead of the Belgian being presented onto the pitch.

Fans will get to hear a special message from De Bruyne as he will witness his final moments in front of them. Following De Bruyne’s presentation, the entire squad will complete a lap of the pitch to express their heartfelt gratitude to all the fans for their incredible support throughout this season.

Kevin De Bruyne

Manchester City

Pep Guardiola

Mayur Dedwal

soccer

I’m a Sports Content Writer with expertise in football. Being a decade old football enthusiast and part-time coach, I try to bring to life to the articles in a statistical manner. Being around all kinds of sports updates and able to put in my perspective’s to the happenings in the world of football are few of the many things i like in doing what i do. You can find me playing Sunday leagues or Xbox on weekends!