Kevin De Bruyne: Pep Guardiola denies rumors of rift with Man City midfielder | Football news

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has denied suggestions of a rift with Kevin De Bruyne, insisting he is “desperate” to get the playmaker back to his best.

A number of leading pundits, including former City defender and club ambassador Micah Richards, have questioned why the Belgium international has not started matches amid the champions’ dramatic crisis.

City have not won in seven matches in all competitions – their worst run since 2008 – with De Bruyne having only featured as a substitute in the last five of those matches after recovering from a pelvic injury.

The latest came with a 12-minute exhaustion in Sunday’s demoralizing 2-0 defeat to Premier League leaders Liverpool, a result which left City 11 points off the pace and in fifth place in the table.

Richards said it seemed “there was some sort of rift” between De Bruyne and Guardiola, while Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher said he felt “something is wrong” and his colleague Aerial sports analyst Gary Neville described the situation as “unusual, bizarre, strange”.

Guardiola, speaking at a press conference to preview his side’s clash against Nottingham Forest, responded on Tuesday.

The Spaniard said: “People say I have a problem with Kevin. Do you think I like not playing with Kevin? No, I don’t want Kevin to play?

“The guy with the most talent in the final third, I don’t want him? I have a personal problem with him after nine years together?

“He brought me the biggest success at this club, but he was injured for five months (last season) and two months (this season).

“He is 33 years old. He needs time to give his best, like last season, step by step. He will try to do it and feel better. I desperately need to do my best .”

Guardiola confirmed De Bruyne was set to start ahead of Wednesday night’s game against Nottingham Forest, where Man City will look to end their seven-game winless run.

De Bruyne has not started since he was sent off at half-time in City’s Champions League clash with Inter Milan on September 18, after being injured in the previous match.

The player and coach have since spoken about the pain he was feeling and the need to return to action, but his stay on the bench was surprisingly long.

The resulting speculation was later heightened as De Bruyne is in the final year of his contract, but Guardiola maintains nothing untoward happened.

He said: “I would love to have Kevin in his prime, 26 or 27. He would love that too – but he’s not 26 or 27 anymore.

“He’s had injuries in the past, significant and long. He’s a guy who needs to be physically fit for his space and his energy. You think I’m complaining? It’s normal, it’s nature.

“He’s played a lot of games over the last 10 or 11 seasons and I know he’s desperate to help us. He’s giving a glimpse of the brilliance that only he can have.

“But, I have always said it, he himself will not solve our problems, just like Erling (Haaland) will not solve them himself. We attack and defend together.

“We want the best players to return. Hopefully, little by little, confidence will return and we will get the best out of all of us.”

Man City are fifth in the Premier League table, 11 points behind leaders Liverpool. Injuries to a number of players have played their part, and Guardiola is confident that with a full squad his team would be top of the league again.

“With all the squad this season, we would be close to the levels we have reached in recent seasons,” he added.

“I’m desperate for the five goals and assists from Phil (Foden), Kevin or Jeremy (Doku), maybe a little less from Jack (Grealish), Savinho or (Ilkay) Gundogan. Just five goals and assists from these four or five players and we would be first in the championship But what happened is that they are not there, they were injured.

“That’s the biggest problem I think I have. We never know what’s going to happen but I have a feeling we’ll be a good team but we have to find solutions with these absences. I have to prove myself and find a way with the problems, we have to be clear in our heads and try to win games.”

Neville: De Bruyne strange absence

After Sunday’s defeat at Anfield, Aerial sports Expert Gary Neville has addressed De Bruyne’s injury situation and believes there is more to the story behind the scenes.

Speaking on the Gary Neville Podcasthe said: “The Kevin De Bruyne thing is unusual, weird, strange.

“Why is he probably the best player the Premier League has had in the last 10 years, why isn’t he there? We know he’s had injuries, but why isn’t he there , because he is a leader, he has authority, he is confident, he is brilliant.

“So there’s something going on, something’s definitely going on in the locker room. There’s something going on.”

Companion Aerial sports Pundit Jamie Carragher added: “There’s something going on with De Bruyne. For me, he’s been the best player in the league over the last five seasons. He doesn’t start games or come on. half-time (against Liverpool).

“I’m not trying to cause more problems for Manchester City, but something is wrong between these two (Guardiola and De Bruyne). It’s sad because we are talking about one of the greatest managers and greatest players in the Premier League.

“His contract expires in the summer and I know he’s had some problems, but something is wrong if he’s not in the team when he’s fit.”

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