City win five in a row for just second time this season
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Sam Drury
De Bruyne takes City past Wolvespublished at 22:45 British Summer Time 2 May
22:45 BST 2 May
FT: Man City 1-0 Wolves
Image source, Getty Images
That's your lot for tonight, folks!
Kevin De Bruyne gave Manchester City three valuable points in their battle to secure Champions League qualification - and perhaps a reminder of what they'll be missing when he leaves at the end of the season, too...
Hit the 'report' tab at the top of this page to read all about it with Shamoon Hafez's excellent report.
There is plenty more Premier League action to come this weekend, including four games tomorrow.
We'll be back to bring you the action from all of them so be sure to us!
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola speaking to Sky Sports: "In of reaching there [the Champions League places] the result was good, focus on the next nine points and if we make the nine then we will be there so it is in our hands and let's go."
On the challenge posed by Wolves: "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."
On finding the rhythm again: "Of course, we won a lot of games in a row that helped us to be here. We won all the game since Bournemouth, except against Manchester United so that's why we are here [fighting for Champions League places] otherwise we would be out."
On Kevin De Bruyne: "Just thank you. 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."
On whether his stay could be extended: "I want the best for Kevin so it cannot be possible to have done these many years without him. He has been an incredible player but the situation is what it is.
"It's almost impossible to replace this kind of player. It is not just the performance, it is what he means to the heart for our fans for many, many years. The success we have belongs to the players."
Manchester City winger Jeremy Doku, speaking to BBC's Match of the Day: "It was a tough game, they played very well. We didn't play our best but three points is three points. Fair play to them though."
On the Champions League: "That is where we belong and want to be. Today we needed to win and we know there are still games to go so we will prepare well for them."
On Kevin De Bruyne's goal: "There was no doubt in him still being capable of doing those things. He has shown today that he still has that quality. I am happy for him that he scored."
On Wolves: "They are very strong in the midfield and a very physical team, they played very well. I am not surprised they had a six game run of wins but I'm glad we ended it."
"Now we look forward to being in the Champions League and we still have the FA Cup final to look forward to as well."
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "If you analyse the result we have improved but analyse the performance and there is still a long way to come."
On Erling Haaland returning to the squad after injury: "It's really good to have him here, really good."
On Kevin De Bruyne scoring the winner at the Etihad in his penultimate home game: "We have another game here. Hopefully there will be another one. With his goal, it lifted our spirits and the spirit for the fans and at the end he makes an incredible action from Jeremy [Doku] and he scores."
On Wolves' chances: "In the first 20 minutes, they were much, much better than us and they had the chances. We were fortunate. We were not what we want to be but we know what we are playing for. It is what it is."
On Champions League qualification: "We are better than [we were] weeks ago and we have done five, six games winning and other teams have dropped points.
"If we play like we did today, it is really good but we cannot relax. Winning in that way is good because it will make us realise that we still need to work."
Wolves manager Vítor Pereira, speaking to Sky Sports: "In the end, that's football. 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."
On what their identity is: "Our identity as a team is one who wants to press higher when we should. A team that knows how to defend and wants to have the ball and create chances. We didn't do that today, but I am still happy."
On next season: "I want to see the same spirit, trying to compete. We must lose a game, like today, but we showed that we have quality to compete. We are proud of ourselves and our ers.
"I will drink my beer because we deserve it! It was a good game."
Wolves defender Nelson Semedo speaking to Sky Sports: "We had two good chances to score, we couldn't score but we leave the stadium with a good sensation and everyone gave everything of themselves so if we keep doing that, we are going to do great things in the future. I'm proud of my team.
On getting back to winning ways as soon as possible: "Definitely, we want to finish the season in the right way, we have two games at home now and one away and we are going to go for it. We had six in a row winning and seven unbeaten but today unfortunately we couldn't carry on with that level but we have a lot of positive things to take from this game and we are going to chase three wins.
On the resurgence in Wolves' performances: "With Vitor [Pereira's] arrival, we had a change and a change is always good. He makes us stronger, stronger connection with the fans now. All of that together and the way that Vitor wants to play.
"He makes us better and we are improving. It was a tough season but we are enjoying now. We knew that we weren't doing well but we had the quality to do better. We didn't win today but we showed team spirit and good qualities. We have a bright future in front of us."
Manchester City match winner Kevin De Bruyne speaking to Sky Sports: "I am still enjoying it, and we still have a job to do. It was a hard game today but we found the way to win. Now we can just relax a bit and see what the other teams do this weekend."
On getting the job done: "It has been tough year but we are finding a bit of a groove. We are winning the games that we need to so let's hope we can end the season like that."
On his goal: "We pressed good and then it was Jeremey [Doku] with the great action. He found me in the right spot and I could finish it."
On his future: "I try to play as much good football as I can. I know that I only have one home game left but I just try to to my job and that's what I did today. A lot of teammates have said that it's sad I have to go too but that's just how it goes sometimes in life. I don't know what the future will be, but I know that I can still play here."
On whether winning the FA Cup is important: "I like to win everything, so yes."
Get Involvedpublished at 22:09 British Summer Time 2 May
22:09 BST 2 May
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My money is on KDB getting a new one-year contract with Man City holding the option of an additional year. Maybe I'm miles off but why let a legend leave?
BBC Sport football news reporter at Etihad Stadium
Kevin de Bruyne scored in his penultimate home game to edge Manchester City past Wolves and lift them to third place in the Premier League.
Midfielder De Bruyne announced last month he will leave when his contract expires at the end of the season, and his first-time finish from Jeremy Doku's low cross helped City move four points clear of sixth-placed Nottingham Forest in the race to qualify for next season's Champions League.
Before the goal, Wolves were causing City problems and should have done better when they broke through but Jean-Ricner Bellegarde elected to square the ball rather than shoot, and the chance went begging as the sliding Marshall Munetsi was unable to connect.
The in-form visitors had City rattled and were inches from breaking the deadlock when the dangerous Rayan Ait-Nouri struck the far post before his follow-up was cleared off the line by Josko Gvardiol.
Wolves attempted to hit back in the second half and struck the woodwork again through Matheus Cunha's whipped effort, but their six-game winning streak came to an end.
Improved Manchester City cannot relax yet - Guardiola
Pep Guardiola has said his side's season has not been good enough, but they are hitting their stride at just the right time, reaching the FA Cup final last weekend and extending their unbeaten run to nine games on Friday.
City have slipped off the top and been knocked out of the Champions League early in their patchy campaign, and the result against Wolves was just the second time this season they had won five games in a row.
The hosts were given a stern test by an impressive Wolves outfit, but as good sides do they managed to hold firm before hitting their opponents with a goal against the run of play.
Speedy winger Doku proved to be a menace from the left throughout the game and it was his low cross on 35 minutes which was converted by De Bruyne.
The captain is approaching the end of his City career and Wolves will be more than happy to see the back of him, as De Bruyne has contributed six goals and five assists against them during his 11-year spell with the club.
Omar Marmoush blazed over and Mateo Kovacic scuffed wide, but City held on for a significant victory after Forest were beaten at home by Brentford on Thursday.
With league games remaining against already-relegated Southampton, Bournemouth and Fulham, City know victories in those matches will assure them a place in Europe's elite next term.
But the Portuguese is unlikely to be ing Wanderers fans at a Manchester pub on Friday night after being narrowly beaten by City.
Journeyman Pereira has performed an incredible job since taking over from Gary O'Neil in December, steering his side to top-flight safety with only Liverpool (14) and Newcastle (12) winning more games than Wolves during that period.
Such has been the progress that when the two sides met at Molineux back in October, Wolves' defeat left them bottom - and here they left Etihad Stadium knowing they could have taken all three points.
Wolves had their share of chances and Bellegarde should have been more selfish and had a shot at goal when running clear, while they also hit the woodwork in each half.
With a Premier League place assured for next season, Wolves can enjoy the remainder of their campaign with games to come against Brighton and Crystal Palace before rounding off against Brentford.
Man City have won eight of their last nine Premier League home games against Wolves, with the exception being a 2-0 loss in October 2019.
Since completing the double over Man City in 2019-20, Wolves have since lost eight of their last nine Premier League games against them (W1).
This is Manchester City’s first Premier League home game on a Friday since Boxing Day 2008, beating Hull City 5-1. It’s just their second evening kick-off (7pm or later) on a Friday at home in the competition, following a 1-1 draw with Coventry in August 1993.
Manchester City have won their last three Premier League games – only once this season have they won more consecutively, doing so in their first four matches of 2024-25.
Wolves have won each of their last six Premier League games, the t-longest winning run of any side this term. Only once have they ever won seven in a row in the top-flight, doing so in September/October 1946.
Wolves have won each of their last four Premier League away games. They last won more consecutive league games on the road in October 2013 (5 in League One), while they last did so in the top-flight in April 1980.
Man City’s Kevin de Bruyne has been involved in 10 goals in just nine Premier League appearances against Wolves, scoring five and assisting five. They’re one of two teams he has 5+ goals and 5+ assists against in the competition, along with Crystal Palace (5G 9A).
Matheus Cunha has been involved in 21 goals in the Premier League this season, scoring 15 and assisting six. It’s the second most goal involvements for a Wolves player in a single campaign, after Raúl Jiménez in 2019-20 (17 goals, 6 assists).
All six of Omar Marmoush’s Premier League goals for Man City have come at the Etihad Stadium. It’s the most goals a player has scored this season with 100% of them coming at home.
Jørgen Strand Larsen has scored six goals in his last six Premier League appearances for Wolves, with four of these being the winning goal of the match.