Pep Guardiola mocked the notion he has fallen out with Kevin De Bruyne following the Belgian’s late cameo in Manchester Metropolis’s defeat at Liverpool on Sunday.
De Bruyne appeared for the final 12 minutes at Anfield with Metropolis already 2-0 down and the sport seemingly gone, though he did miss a good chance to halve the arrears after capitalising on a slip from Virgil van Dijk.
De Bruyne has performed simply 72 minutes of soccer throughout 5 substitute appearances after coming back from an belly drawback and Guardiola insists his restricted use is all the way down to his need to guard the 33-year-old.
Prepared 😤
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— Manchester Metropolis (@ManCity) December 3, 2024
Sky pundits Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville steered there could also be a difficulty between the 2 however, talking forward of tonight’s recreation with Nottingham Forest on the Etihad, Guardiola mentioned: “Folks say I’ve obtained an issue with Kevin? Do you suppose I wish to not play with Kevin?”
He added sarcastically: “No, I don’t need Kevin to play. The man who has essentially the most expertise within the last third. I don’t need it. I’ve a private drawback with him after 9 years collectively.”
De Bruyne is previous his prime
Metropolis’s defeat at Liverpool means they’ve gone seven video games and not using a win in all competitions and Guardiola accepts he has to stability the need to get their season again on observe and the necessity to preserve De Bruyne match for the latter levels of the season.
“He’s delivered the largest successes to this membership,” Guardiola mentioned. “I’d like to have the Kevin in his prime, 26 or 27. He would adore it too. However he isn’t 26 or 27 anymore.
“He had accidents previously, necessary and lengthy ones. He’s a man who must be bodily match for his house and power.
“He wants time to search out his finest. Like final season, step-by-step. He’ll attempt to do it and really feel higher.
“I’m determined to have his finest. I do know he’s determined to assist us, he offers glimpses of brilliance that solely he can do.”
Accidents have hampered Metropolis – Pep
Metropolis have been battling an harm disaster and Guardiola lamented the very fact he had not been in a position to name upon the membership’s different attacking abilities.
He added: “I’m determined for 5 targets and assists from [Phil] Foden after final season. 5 for Kevin, targets and assists from Jeremy [Doku], targets and assists from Jack [Grealish], from Savinho or Gundo [Ilkay Gundogan].
“Simply 5 targets and assists [each] from these gamers and we’d be prime of the league.
“Why hasn’t it occurred? They weren’t right here. They had been injured. They weren’t prepared. That is the larger drawback I’ve.”