They were the last of them on the pitch, the last men standing. Kevin de Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan, two-thirds of a Champions League-winning midfield two years ago, were saluting the Manchester City fans up amongst the gods at the top of the Bernabeu Stadium. Waving goodbye, perhaps.
To the Champions League? It felt that way, though De Bruyne might like another contract and Gundogan has played so much he is close to triggering a one-year extension to his deal. The German is arguably City’s most successful ever captain, the lone one to lift this trophy, the Belgian probably their greatest ever player, at least until weight of goals means Erling Haaland takes that mantle.
