Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has dismissed rumors of a rift with Kevin De Bruyne amid the midfielder’s limited playing time.
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Guardiola dismissed rift rumors with De Bruyne
De Bruyne has started only four Premier League games and made five substitute appearances since returning from an abdominal injury sustained against Inter Milan in September.
The 33-year-old made his appearance with just 12 minutes remaining in City’s 2-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield.
After the game, Sky Sports pundits Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher speculated that there is a rift between the player and manager.
Carragher said: “Something is going on with De Bruyne. Something isn’t right between those two.”
Neville agreed and said the situation between Guardiola and De Bruyne seemed “unusual, bizarre, strange”.
However, the Spanish manager insisted that he has no issues with the Belgian playmaker.
“People say I’ve got a problem with Kevin,” Guardiola said.
“Do you think I like to not play with Kevin? No, I don’t want Kevin to play. The guy who has the most talent in the final third. I don’t want it. I have a personal problem with him after nine years together.”
“He’s delivered to me the biggest success to this club. But he’s been five months injured and two months injured. He’s 33-years-old.
“He needs time to find his best. Like last season, step by step. He’ll try to do it and feel better. I’m desperate to have his best.”
Health comes first
Guardiola hinted that De Bruyne will likely feature in City’s Premier League game against Nottingham Forest on Wednesday.
City hopes to end a four-game winless streak as they sit fifth in the Premier League table.
Meanwhile, Guardiola emphasized that De Bruyne’s fitness comes first, as he alone won’t solve City’s problems.
“I’d love to have the Kevin in his prime — 26 or 27,” Guardiola said.
“He would love it too. But he is not 26 or 27 anymore. He had injuries in the past, important and long ones. He is a guy who needs to be physically fit for his space and energy.
Guardiola added: “He played in 10 or 11 seasons a lot of games. I know he is desperate to help us, he gives glimpses of brilliance that only he can have.
“But always I said, he himself will not solve our problems. Like Erling [Haaland] won’t solve it himself. We attack and defend together. We want the best players back. Hopefully step by step the confidence will come back and we’ll get the best of all of us.”
