Manchester City are gathering momentum after FA Cup display — and they will only get stronger

It could have been a man who isn’t quite ready to come back, even on a day full of comebacks.
Not a goal, but the sight of one of the greatest players in Manchester City’s history brought about the loudest ovation at the Etihad Stadium for the second straight weekend. For the first match in 149 days and his second assist of his interrupted season, Kevin De Bruyne started on the bench this time, in contrast to his performance against Sheffield United.

To capitalize on his fellow Belgian’s supply line, Jeremy Doku also made a comeback after missing eight games.

Nevertheless, Huddersfield Town might have had cause for gratitude when they were duly eliminated from the FA Cup. Erling Haaland and a few other City players are still injured. Recalling a 10-1 triumph over Town in 1987, the home crowd erupted in “we want 10.” To say that Darren Moore’s team, who fought valiantly, would have succeeded in getting their wish if the Norwegian were fit might be unjust to them.

Although without their most threatening player, City are less likely to compile historic scorelines, others took advantage of the chance to lead the charge.

After four games, Julian Alvarez, who might soon have to return to a deeper role, scored his fifth goal. Playing as a No. 10, Phil Foden had broken the tie. Amazing everywhere he went, he took over in attack following Alvarez’s substitution, and he now had four goals in as many games. With the exception of the 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace, they have been City’s two main scorers when Haaland hasn’t been available, guaranteeing that they have won every match without him.

It is an indication of the heights City have reached, the unsurprising nature of victories, and the brilliance of De Bruyne that substitutions can seem the day’s highlight. Certainly the volume levels peaked when he was seen in a City shirt for the first time since August. Doku’s own arrival, in a double change, was camouflaged by the choruses of his compatriot’s name.

They were bracketed together again when De Bruyne, with a perfectly weighted chip, picked out Doku with a cross and he dispatched a half-volley. Each had made it look easy and ultimately it was for City. Their defence of one of their many trophies began in comfortable fashion as they extended Pep Guardiola’s 100pc record at the Etihad Stadium in the FA Cup: 12 games, 12 wins with 51 goals scored.

There were plenty of performances to enjoy: Matheus Nunes, summoned earlier than expected when Manuel Akanji was injured in a challenge that brought the Huddersfield debutant Alex Matos a booking, shrugged off sickness to produce one of his most influential displays in a City shirt, capped with a couple of delectable touches. Mateo Kovacic was excellent, too, playing a part in three goals if, typically, scoring none. The 18-year-old Jacob Wright clipped the bar on his debut with a shot that offered echoes of Foden.

If a quiet beginning suited Huddersfield, City showed signs of a class divide between clubs separated by 38 places as they scored three goals in the second half and two goals in the first five minutes. While the other aims to remain in the Championship, the first has the Champions League as its goal.

With a reverse feed from Kovacic to Alvarez, City began to gain the upper hand. Although the Argentinean’s low cross was likely not meant for Foden, the Mancunian intercepted it and scored a half-volley. It put Foden into double figures for the season earlier than he had ever played; before the afternoon was out, he would add a another goal.

Prior to that, a stretching After Nunes surged into the box and discovered Rico Lewis with a cutback, Alvarez added the finishing touch. With a low pass, he found the World Cup winner; his shot seemed to go into the net slowly.

De Bruyne’s arrival was followed by the third goal, which might have been planned to provide him with the ideal comeback. Oscar Bobb’s chipped cross could have been aiming at the Belgian following a lovely touch by Nunes. Rather, Ben Jackson’s deflection resulted in the defender being charged with an own goal.

The fourth didn’t need that kind of luck. Kovacic fed the ball to Foden, who finished with a brilliantly placed shot into the bottom corner. It was Doku’s first goal in a span of two months.

Huddersfield, on the other hand, had to lament two close calls. While none would have altered the result, each would have thrilled the 6,000 fans who traveled from Yorkshire.

Maybe Sorba Thomas should have cut the lead at 3-0 following a Ruben Dias error. Rather, Stefan Ortega held onto his shot. Once more, City’s backup goalkeeper showed resilience as January addition Bojan Radulovic cut inside and fired a shot. He did not score his first goal, but Huddersfield were encouraged.

Furthermore, City must decide whether they will once more become unstoppable in the second half of the season given the sight of De Bruyne returning and the knowing that Haaland will follow.