after an entertaining encounter with Sevilla ended 1-1 after 90 minutes, Palmer took the plaudits.
Guardiola, though, suggested the England Under-21 international's future at the club remained uncertain. The scenes when Sevilla's Nemanja Gudelj crashed a penalty against the bar to give City victory after nine successful penalties was ample demonstration of that. It did not come without lots of sweat - literally on this boiling night in Athens - and some fine work from keeper Ederson, whose save from Sevilla goalscorer Youssef En-Nesyri to prevent the Spanish Europa League holders doubling their lead in the second half proved to be a crucial moment.
But Guardiola made no attempt to disguise how damaging a lengthy absence for De Bruyne could prove to be.