Pep Guardiola defends call to limit Kevin De Bruyne's Manchester City minutes - ‘He himself will not solve our problems'
Published 04/12/2024 at 08:51 GMT
Kevin De Bruyne has struggled to force his way into Manchester City's team since returning from a hamstring injury last month, but Pep Guardiola insists there is not a problem between himself and the Belgian. De Bruyne has been a substitute in the last five games across all competitions, and Guardiola has put it down to the fact that he cannot solve the club's current "problems" alone.
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Pep Guardiola insists that Kevin de Bruyne "will not solve" Manchester City’s problems and has denied rumours of a rift with the playmaker.
The 33-year-old, who played a key role in City winning six of the last seven Premier League titles, has struggled with fitness problems over the last year.
The reigning champions are in a slump, having gone an unprecedented seven games across all competitions without a win, six of which they have lost. It is the worst run of Guardiola’s managerial career.
And the Catalan coach does not believe De Bruyne, who has suffered multiple lengthy hamstring injuries, is in the right shape to help turn things around.
"I'd love to have 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. 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 I always 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."
The Belgian midfielder has had limited time on the pitch this season and has not started since suffering an abdominal problem in a UEFA Champions League draw against Inter Milan in September.
He last completed 90 minutes in a 2-1 win against Brentford nearly two months ago and since then has been used as a substitute five times.
"People say I've got a problem with Kevin," Guardiola said, defending his decision not to bring the playmaker on earlier in the damaging 2-0 defeat to Liverpool on Sunday.
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"Do you think I like to not play with Kevin? 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."
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