Kevin De Bruyne STARTS for Man City against Nottingham Forest – a day after Pep Guardiola hit back at Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher for claiming he had fallen out with the Belgian
Kevin De Bruyne has been selected to start for Manchester City on Wednesday evening – just a day after Pep Guardiola was forced to deny there was a rift between himself and the Belgian.
De Bruyne, 33, has played just 72 minutes in five substitute appearances since returning from a long-term pelvic injury last month – and conspiracy theories about his situation have been suggested in the aftermath of Sunday’s defeat to Liverpool.
Jamie Carragher said on Sky Sports that ‘there’s something not right between those two’ and Gary Neville said vaguely that ‘there’s definitely something going on in the dressing room’.
Gary Lineker and Micah Richards discussed similar issues with Alan Shearer on their podcast ‘The Rest is Football’.
However, Guardiola hit back at these claims ahead of City’s clash with Nottingham Forest, and the Spaniard has placed his faith in De Bruyne from the start.
The under-fire City boss, who has seen his side lose six of their last seven games in all competitions, ridiculed the suggestions before praising De Bruyne for his talents.
Kevin De Bruyne has been selected to start for Manchester City on Wednesday evening
“People say I have a problem with Kevin,” the City boss said on Tuesday. “Do you think I like not playing with Kevin?”
Guardiola continued sarcastically: ‘No, I don’t want Kevin to play. The man with the most talent in the final third. I don’t want it. I have a personal problem with him after nine years together.’
The 33-year-old has been cautious on his return from the most recent match and City are taking into account the pile-up of injuries after missing five months following hamstring surgery last year.
“He has given this club the greatest successes,” Guardiola added. ‘I would like to have Kevin in his prime, 26 or 27. He would love that. But he’s not 26 or 27 anymore.
‘He has had injuries in the past, important and long-lasting ones. He is a man who needs to be physically fit for his space and energy.
‘He needs time to get the best out of himself. Just like last season, step by step. He will try to do it and feel better.
‘I desperately want the best of him. I know he is desperate to help us, he provides a glimpse of brilliance that only he can do.”
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