- Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher wondered why Kevin De Bruyne was not playing
- De Bruyne has played 72 minutes in five games since returning from injury
- LISTEN NOW: Manchester City correspondent Jack Gaughan joins us It all starts! to explain whether Pep Guardiola has money to spend in January
Pep Guardiola took aim at Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher after pundits claimed a rift had opened between the Manchester City manager and star midfielder Kevin De Bruyne.
De Bruyne 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 at Liverpool.
Carragher said on Sky Sports that ‘there’s something not right between those two’ and 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’.
Guardiola hit back by ridiculing the idea that the pair were at odds before City went into Wednesday’s home game against Nottingham Forest on the back of a run of four successive defeats in the league.
“People say I have a problem with Kevin,” said the City boss. “Do you think I like not playing with Kevin?”
Pep Guardiola took aim at Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher after pundits claimed a rift had opened between the Manchester City manager and star midfielder Kevin De Bruyne
Neville claimed that ‘there’s definitely something going on’ as the reason for De Bruyne’s lack of playing time
Carragher made a similar claim, with De Bruyne playing just 72 minutes in five games
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.”
Guardiola also stressed that City would be battling Arne Slot’s Liverpool if they had not suffered an injury crisis this season. He wants his attacking players to provide more help to Erling Haaland, who has scored 12 goals.
“I’m desperate to get five goals and assists from (Phil) Foden after last season,” he said. ‘Five for Kevin, goals and assists from Jeremy (Doku), goals and assists from Jack (Grealish), from Savinho or Gundo.
Guardiola ridiculed the suggestion and praised De Bruyne’s talent and performances for City
He also called on City’s other attacking players to provide more help to Erling Haaland, who scored 12 goals
‘Five goals and assists (each) from these (players). Not 20, 30 or 40. Just five goals and assists from these players and we would be top of the league.
‘Why didn’t it happen? They weren’t here. They were injured. They weren’t ready. This is the bigger problem I have.”