Kevin de Bruyne returned to competitive football for the first time since August as Manchester City kicked off their FA Cup defense with a convincing win against Huddersfield Town at Etihad Stadium.
De Bruyne, recovering from a hamstring injury, made his second-half comeback as Manchester City progressed to the fourth round of the FA Cup with a comfortable win.
Phil Foden scored twice, while Julian Alvarez, Jeremy Doku, and an own goal by Ben Jackson secured the victory for Pep Guardiola’s team.
Having clinched the trophy in the previous season as part of a remarkable Treble-winning campaign, Manchester City faced Huddersfield Town, currently 21st in the Championship, with low expectations for an upset.
Despite Huddersfield’s resilient defense holding out for 33 minutes, City displayed their prowess, initiating the scoring with Foden’s strike after Alvarez’s initial shot was blocked.
Alvarez added to the tally with a well-executed finish following a sequence of precise passes that dismantled Huddersfield’s defense.
In the early stages of the second half, a pass intended for De Bruyne from the impressive Oscar Bobb took an unfortunate deflection off Jackson, finding the net.
Foden secured his brace with a powerful shot before Doku, also returning from injury, capitalized on a stranded Lee Nicholls to seal City’s fifth goal.
There were chants of “we want 10” from some home supporters, with older fans perhaps reminiscing about the 10-1 win City enjoyed against Huddersfield in 1987.
That never looked likely and, to the Terriers’ credit, they fought hard and defended well at times against a City side capable of tearing apart almost any team at any level.
De Bruyne a welcome sight for City
Manchester City achieved an extraordinary feat of winning five trophies last year; however, top-performing teams seldom rest on their accomplishments, and their determination to secure success remains unwavering this year.
Their journey to defend the FA Cup commenced with a victory that, while seemingly routine, carried significance beyond just avoiding an early upset.
The return of De Bruyne was equally crucial, as Guardiola recognizes the necessity of having his key players in optimal condition to contend on multiple fronts. De Bruyne’s absence in the first half of the season was palpable, making his comeback a noteworthy event.
Upon entering the game, De Bruyne received a standing ovation from the home fans, accompanied by chants of his name.
The Belgian playmaker, in a poignant reminder of his skills, contributed with an assist for Doku’s goal.
Having made only one Premier League appearance before his injury, De Bruyne completed his 33-minute comeback unscathed, providing Guardiola with a reassuring boost as they approach the latter half of the season.