Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has denied any personal issues with Kevin De Bruyne following claims by pundits Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher that the two have fallen out. The speculation arose after De Bruyne was benched for most of City’s 2-0 loss to Liverpool, playing only 12 minutes at Anfield.
Responding to the comments, Guardiola described the claims as unfounded, emphasizing his long-standing relationship with the Belgian midfielder. “Do you think I don’t want Kevin to play? The guy with the most talent in the final third? After nine years together, he’s delivered the biggest success for this club,” Guardiola said.
He explained that De Bruyne’s game time has been limited due to injuries, with the 33-year-old struggling to regain full fitness. Guardiola added, “He’s been injured for five months and two months. He needs time to find his best again, step by step.”
Despite De Bruyne’s reduced role this season, Guardiola reassured fans of his commitment to the player, attributing the situation solely to fitness management and age-related challenges.
