Etihad s Red and Blue Symphony: The Ten Years of Malmush World Po and De Bruyne!

In the early morning of May 21, 2025, the spotlight at the Etihad Stadium was focused on the two protagonists at the same time. When Marmush's left-footed arc ball cut through the night sky, the cheers of 47,000 fans shone with the giant Tifo of "Legend De Bruyne" in the stands, and together they wrote the most symbolic night in Manchester City's history - this is not only the ascension ceremony of young geniuses and the farewell poem of the legendary midfielder.

1. Marmush: The new king outside the 25 yards was crowned in the 14th minute of the match, the gears of history began to rotate. Bournemouth goalkeeper Neto didn't even have time to make a save when the ball flew out of Marmush's boot. This world wave, which is 25 yards away from the goal, is directly hung at a dead corner at a speed of 118 kilometers per hour, and its accuracy is comparable to laser guidance. After scoring the goal, Malmush ran to the corner flag area and knelt on his knees to kiss the turf - this was his 12th Premier League goal in his first season with Manchester City, and it was the most brilliant footnote in his career.

The 22-year-old Serbian star demonstrates far from a single dimension offensive ability. Throughout the game, he completed 3 key passes and 2 successful passes, creating 6 turnovers from his opponent in the frontcourt pressure. Guardiola specifically called him to the sidelines to review the game after the game: "You have a very ripe time to deal with the ball in the midfield, especially the side-to-side support in the 63rd minute, which fully demonstrates the vision of the top forward. " The data will not lie: Malmush touched the ball 58 times in this game, of which 21 touched the ball in the 30-meter area of ​​the opponent's penalty area, with a success rate of up to 81%. His outbreak not only secured Manchester City's qualification for the Champions League, but also allowed people to see the core offensive prototype of the post-De Bruyne era.

2. De Bruyne: The last waltz of the decade's blue moon

When De Bruyne was replaced by Foden in the 69th minute, Etihad's applause lasted for a full 3 minutes. The Belgian midfielder hugged every teammate before leaving the court. With red eyes, he walked to the sidelines and gave the jersey to a small fan holding a banner with "Thank you, Kevin". That night, he used his actions to interpret what the "legend's curtain call" is: a scalpel with a straight assist in the opening 15 minutes, a running distance of 10.2 kilometers in the half, and a back that bowed deeply to the audience when he was replaced.

data cannot fully measure his contribution. In the past decade, De Bruyne has made 432 appearances for Manchester City, contributing 125 goals and 162 assists, helping the team win six Premier League titles, three FA Cups and two Champions League games. What is even more amazing is that he ranked first in the league in the Premier League average ratings in 2019-20, 2021-22 and 2022-23, defining the benchmark of modern midfield with his continuous top performance. At the farewell ceremony, the scene of his long-distance run against Liverpool in 2017 and his 2021 Champions League final were played. Fans in the stands waved the Belgian flag and sang "You 'll Never Walk Alone" in unison.

3. Tactical Game: The collision between the iron wall of the ball control and the counterattack blade

Manchester City continued the iconic 3-2-5 ball control system this season, forming a local numerical advantage through the full-back acquisition. The double midfielder of De Bruyne and Gundogan completed 523 passes in the first half, with a success rate of 91%. This kind of oppressive ball control completely suppressed Bournemouth's counterattack space. The visiting team only got three counterattack opportunities in the whole game, and were all accurately intercepted by Rodri.

But the drama of the game suddenly escalated in the 63rd minute. Kovacic left the field with a malicious foul, and Manchester City was forced to fight with 10 people. Guardiola decisively changed the formation 4-4-1, pushing Foden to the front midfielder position, using his flexible running to connect the attack. This adjustment was immediate: In the 89th minute, Nico Gonzalez, who came on the bench, scored with a wonderful pass from Foden, expanding the score to 3-0. Although Jebison won a goal in stoppage time, Bournemouth could no longer change the direction of the game.

IV. Twin Cities: The Storm of Youth and the Afterglow of the Dynasty

When De Bruyne said at the farewell ceremony "This city makes me a better self," the camera swept through the fans wearing De Bruyne's mask in the stands and the young face waving the No. 10 jersey of Marmush. This intergenerational heritage is fully reflected in the game: De Bruyne's pass success rate in the first half was 92%, while Marmush's running coverage reached 11.8 kilometers, ranking first in the game in both statistics.

In the locker room after the game, De Bruyne solemnly handed the captain's armband to Rodri: "Now it's your turn to write history." Marmush posted a photo with De Bruyne on social media, with the caption: "Thank you for teaching me how to become a true leader. " This spirit of inheritance is the foundation of Manchester City's continued glory - as Guardiola said after the game: "Kevin (De Bruyne) is the cornerstone of the past decade, and Marmush represents the hope for the next decade. "

5. Eternal memory: 50,000 Blue Moon subjects' collective tribute

After the final whistle, under the dim light of Etihad, the giant screen began to play De Bruyne's career review. When the picture freezes at the moment when he kneels down to celebrate in the 2021 Champions League final, 50,000 mobile phone flashes suddenly lit up in the stands, like the Milky Way in the night sky. De Bruyne returned to the center of the court with his wife and children, and choked and said: "Everyone here is the most important part of my life. "

And Marmush was thrown into the air by his teammates - this is not only a compliment for his world wave, but also an expectation for Manchester City's future. When the figures of the two protagonists intertwined in the spotlight, Etihad's dome seemed to tell: the charm of football lies in witnessing the end of the legend, while also nurturing new legends..

This 3-1 victory is not only a key battle for Manchester City to lock in the Champions League qualification, but also a perfect interpretation of the spirit of football. When the statue of De Bruyne stands outside the Etihad Stadium in the future, Marmush's name may also be engraved on Manchester City's championship wall. This is the cycle of football. In inheritance and innovation, there is a legend that never fades.