Kevin De Bruyne: Pep Guardiola denies rumours of a rift with Man Metropolis midfielder

Manchester Metropolis boss Pep Guardiola has rubbished recommendations of a rift with Kevin De Bruyne, insisting he’s “desperate” to have the playmaker again at his greatest.

Plenty of outstanding pundits, together with former Metropolis defender and membership ambassador Micah Richards, have questioned why the Belgium worldwide has not been beginning video games amid the champions’ dramatic stoop.

Metropolis haven’t received in seven outings in all competitions – their worst run since 2008 – with De Bruyne that includes solely instead within the final 5 of these matches after recovering from a pelvic damage.

The most recent got here with a 12-minute run-out in Sunday’s demoralising 2-0 defeat at Premier League leaders Liverpool, a outcome which left Metropolis 11 factors off the tempo and fifth within the desk.

Richards mentioned it appeared “there’s some sort of rift going on” between De Bruyne and Guardiola, whereas Sky Sports activities’ Jamie Carragher mentioned he felt “something isn’t right” and fellow Sky Sports activities analyst Gary Neville described the state of affairs as “unusual, bizarre, strange”.

Guardiola, talking at a press convention to preview his facet’s conflict with Nottingham Forest, responded on Tuesday.

The Spaniard mentioned: “Folks say I’ve obtained an issue with Kevin. Do you assume I prefer to not play with Kevin? No, I do not need 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 is delivered to me the largest success to this membership, however he is been 5 months injured [last season] and two months injured [this season].

“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.”

Guardiola did verify that De Bruyne is near beginning forward of Wednesday night’s recreation in opposition to Nottingham Forest, the place Man Metropolis will look to finish their run of seven video games with out victory.

De Bruyne has not began since being pressured off at half-time of Metropolis’s Champions League conflict with Inter Milan on September 18, having picked up an damage within the earlier recreation.

Each the participant and supervisor have spoken since of the ache he was in and the necessity to ease again into motion, however his spell on the bench has been unexpectedly lengthy.

The ensuing hypothesis has then been exacerbated as a result of De Bruyne is within the closing yr of his contract, however Guardiola maintains nothing untoward has occurred.

He mentioned: “I’d love to have the Kevin in his prime, 26 or 27. He would love it too – but he is not 26 or 27 anymore.

“He had accidents previously, essential and lengthy ones. He’s a man who must be bodily match for his house and power. You assume I am complaining? It is regular, it is nature.

“He’s played in 10 or 11 seasons a lot of games and I know he is desperate to help us. He gives glimpses of brilliance that only he can have.

“However, at all times I mentioned, he himself won’t clear up our issues, like Erling (Haaland) will not clear up it himself. We assault and defend collectively.

“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.”

Man Metropolis are fifth within the Premier League desk, 11 factors behind leaders Liverpool. Accidents to a lot of gamers have performed their half, and Guardiola is bound that with a full squad, his workforce would as soon as once more high the league.

“With all the squad this season, we would be close to the levels we reached over the last 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 top of the league. But what happened is they are not here, they were injured.

“That is the larger downside I believe I’ve. We by no means know what will occur however my feeling is we will likely be workforce however we’ve to seek out options with these absences. I’ve to show myself and discover a approach with the issues we’ve to be clear in our heads and attempt to win video games.”

Neville: De Bruyne absence weird

After Sunday’s defeat at Anfield, Sky Sports activities pundit Gary Neville addressed De Bruyne’s damage state of affairs, and believes there may be extra to the story behind the scenes.

Talking on the Gary Neville Podcast, he mentioned: “The Kevin De Bruyne thing is unusual, bizarre, strange.

“Why might be the very best participant that the Premier League has had within the final 10 years, why is he not on the market? We all know he is had accidents, however why is he not on the market, as a result of he is a pacesetter, he is obtained authority, he is obtained confidence, he is obtained brilliance.

“So something’s going on, something’s definitely going on in the dressing room. There’s something happening.”

Fellow Sky Sports activities pundit Jamie Carragher added: “Something is going on with De Bruyne. For me, he has been the best player in the league for the last five seasons. He isn’t starting games and doesn’t come on at half-time [against Liverpool].

“I’m not attempting to trigger extra bother for Manchester Metropolis however one thing is not proper between these two [Guardiola and De Bruyne]. It’s unhappy as a result of we’re speaking about one of many biggest managers, and biggest gamers within the Premier League.

“His contract is up this summer and I know he has had a few problems but something isn’t right if he isn’t in the team when he is fit.”