Kevin de Bruyne admitted that he was feeling the pressure to perform, after scoring twice and providing an assist in Manchester City's 4-2 win at Crystal Palace on April 6.
In the process, he reached the 100-goal mark for the champions, who moved level on points with title rivals Liverpool ahead of the Reds' match against Manchester United on April 7.
De Bruyne, who was taken off in the second half of their 1-1 draw with Liverpool on March 10, led City's response at Selhurst Park by curling in a beauty to equalise, after Jean-Philippe Mateta had scored a third-minute opener.
After Rico Lewis gave City the lead in the second half, de Bruyne teed up Erling Haaland to end his goal drought.
The 32-year-old Belgian then rounded off an impressive display by smashing in his 100th City goal to make it 4-1, before Odsonne Edouard narrowed the deficit.
De Bruyne said he was feeling the heat after Phil Foden scored a hat-trick in their 4-1 win over Aston Villa on April 3, when Haaland and him were both dropped.
Denne historien er fra April 07, 2024-utgaven av The Straits Times.
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Denne historien er fra April 07, 2024-utgaven av The Straits Times.
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