Closing in on glory

Pep Guardiola hails ‘more clinical’ Kevin De Bruyne’s four goal-effort in 5-1 thrashing of Wolves; Manchester City now three points clear of Liverpool

Pep Guardiola described Kevin De Bruyne’s form as “beyond perfect” after the Belgian scored four goals in a 5-1 thrashing of Wolves that took Manchester City another step closer to retaining the Premier League. 

Pep Guardiola’s men move three points clear of Liverpool with two games to play and boosted their goal difference to seven superior to the Reds. City need just four points from Sunday’s trip to West Ham and the visit of Aston Villa on the final day of the season to be crowned champions for the fourth time in five years. 

Decisive factor

And with De Bruyne on this form, they will take some stopping as the Belgian produced his brilliant best to blow away the hosts with a hat-trick inside 24 minutes.  “The second part of the league was beyond perfect,” said Guardiola of De Bruyne’s form. 

Pep Guardiola

“He is so generous. He always has the sense to make an assist, but now he is more clinical. He has the sense to score goals. He has been decisive scoring goals, this is what makes him the greatest.

Scoring four goals in the decisive part of the league right now is so important,” Guardiola said.

The visitors, though, were without three key defenders in Kyle Walker, John Stones and Ruben Dias through injury and it showed. Pedro Neto was allowed to gallop clear into the City box and picked out Leander Dendoncker to level on 11 minutes. Parity only lasted another five minutes as De Bruyne was both creator and executioner of City’s second. Raheem Sterling failed to connect with his pass through the heart of the Wolves defence, but Sa could only turn the ball back into De Bruyne’s path and he made no mistake. 

Left is right for De Bruyne

The best was yet to come from De Bruyne, 30, as he took aim from outside the box and arrowed a shot into the bottom corner to complete a hat-trick, with all three goals scored by his supposedly weaker left foot. “My right is the stronger foot but I’m never afraid to shoot with my left because it creates a problem for the opposition. Whenever you get the opportunity, don’t hesitate,” said De Bruyne.

Chelsea consolidate Top-4 position 

Chelsea moved to the brink of qualifying for next season’s Champions League as they pushed Leeds closer to relegation from the Premier League with a 3-0 victory on Wednesday. Thomas Tuchel’s side won for the first time since Todd Boehly’s consortium agreed a deal to buy Chelsea from Roman Abramovich last week. 

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