FIVE-STAR KEVIN

Vintage De Bruyne rolls back the years

- Jeremy Cross

PEP GUARDIOLA’S outfit of all black felt quite fitting to begin with.

Because for quite a spell he resembled someone stood at a footballing wake, mourning the death of his beloved team.

If only Guardiola could turn back time.

But not even the watch costing an estimated £1million Guardiola wore on his wrist could do this.

Thankfully for him, though, he had Kevin De Bruyne doing all he could to roll back the clock on behalf of a side which has gone from Hollywood to skid row in the space of just six remarkable months.

The Manchester City fans still chant his name.

But the sad fact is the noise from the stands is born as much out of loyalty and an appreciation of the past as what he does on the pitch these days.

His prime is now behind him. But the flashes of brilliance remain, because here he was still being a force at the age of 33.

Like midway through the first half, when De Bruyne burst forward through midfield and sent Omar Marmoush clean through with a brilliant pass.

It was reminiscent of De Bruyne at the peak of his powers.