Departing Man City legend Kevin De Bruyne backs the club’s youngsters to shine following win against Crystal Palace

As Kevin De Bruyne went through some greatest hits on his farewell tour, there were encouraging signs for Pep Guardiola in his quest to re-energise Manchester City without the mercurial Belgian. Ingredients for a new magic formula were evident in a thrilling comeback that was an antidote to last weekend’s derby stalemate.

Youngsters showing they had toughened up from difficult times at the Etihad? Tick.

Seniors indicating they can continue providing knowhow once De Bruyne has departed? Tick. Most importantly, the odds of getting Champions League football to attract A-listers to help Rodri and Erling Haaland are improving, with City now only two points off third-placed Nottingham Forest.

It was achieved with a De Bruyne goal and assist, but also a couple of 20-year-olds, Rico Lewis and Nico O’Reilly, at full back and 22-year-old James McAtee scoring on his first league start for City.

Lewis, at City from the age of eight, made the point that after years of success, it has been a steep learning curve for Guardiola’s side.

‘All I’ve known since coming into the first team is winning trophies,’ said the likeable Mancunian. ‘This is the first season we’ve had the amount of issues where there have been tough periods and it’s been good to learn from it.

James McAtee (L), Nico O’Reilly (C) and Rico Lewis (R) impressed against Crystal Palace

‘It comes with every career, ups and downs. But I think if this happened again we’ll be better prepared for it, and that goes for me personally as well.

‘At the start of the season, I was really happy. We were flying. Then, nobody expected the amount of injuries we got. It’s affected everyone and I think credit to the players who were still out there and fighting. Only we know how much effort we’ve put in and how much we wanted to do well in the bad moments.

‘This win sends a message out that we’re focused on our goal of Champions League and we’re going to achieve it.’

De Bruyne feels positive about the next gen. ‘There have been so many good players from the academy in the last 10 years,’ said the 33-year-old. ‘They get their chances and grab them. This will help them with their confidence.’

Lewis pinpointed De Bruyne, Ruben Dias and Ilkay Gundogan as the trio who delivered the right dressing-room messages in tough periods.

De Bruyne is going but 34-year-old Gundogan is enjoying a resurgence in form having been badly off the pace during the first half of the season.

Guardiola will need dressing-room leaders more than ever next season and with the German having played the amount of games to trigger a contract extension, the expectation is he will be given a role.

‘The Gundo here, the Gundo at Bournemouth and Leicester, that’s the Gundo I remember,’ said Guardiola. ‘The one that helped us win the Treble and the quadruple and was such an important player. His defensive intelligence, the way he arrives, it helps us massively.

Pep Guardiola praised Ilkay Gundogan, with the midfielder enjoying a resurgence in form

‘Everyone has been down and below their best but when a team plays good, the individual levels rise. Without that, you cannot do it. What will happen I don’t know but he (Gundogan) has one more year on his contract here now.’

The only downside was goalkeeper Ederson limping off with a muscular issue having earlier assisted McAtee’s goal. It is worth remembering City were already without Haaland. Rodri, Phil Foden, John Stones, Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake on Saturday due to injury.

Palace found it hard to cope without one key player, the suspended Marc Guehi. ‘Every team misses their captain,’ admitted Eagles boss Oliver Glasner. ‘But, still, nobody was at their top level.’