Man City team news: Pep Guardiola concedes Kevin De Bruyne may not be in his strongest line-up anymore
The Belgian was pivotal last season to capture the title, but after a series of injuries, Guardiola has rebuilt his side without the former Chelsea star
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Your support makes all the difference.Pep Guardiola has admitted Kevin De Bruyne is battling to regain his place in Manchester City‘s best XI and may not start this weekend vs Chelsea.
The Belgian was superb last season to inspire City to the title, but after a series of injuries, Guardiola has rebuilt his side without him.
And the Spaniard concedes De Bruyne may not be in his strongest side anymore.
“Maybe yeah. it’s quite possible, everyone knows it’s possible or not possible,” Guardiola said.
“At the end we judge the players for who they are but they are there to perform. There are times when teammates are in better condition, in football what you have done in the past – you have to do in future.”
And De Bruyne’s omission from the bench vs Everton was explained.
“We try to control the players, he played the last two. At Everton he got a few minutes, I want him to play as much as possible he went out for five minutes and he was increidble,” Guardiola added.
“I want him to sustain that for a long time. when you’re out a long time, I don’t want him playing game, game, game.
“At Goodison they play with a lot of set pieces, we are not a tall team so we wanted players for that. We put John there and he showed me his personality.
“He is playing so good with and without the ball, that was the reason. We play another game and some important players are not going to play. That’s what it is.”
There City boss was also confused about Benjamin Mendy‘s whereabouts, with the French left-back appearing to suggest he was in Hong Kong in a social media post.
“Benjamin Mendy is injured and it’s not easy. Meniscus. It is not easy. He needs to readapt,” Guardiola said.
“You can’t return and train for two days and then you are fit. You have to be careful.
“Wow, I didn’t know [he was in Hong Kong]. He said he was going to Paris but Hong Kong is far away, I need to download an Instagram account.
“Yesterday he was in Barcelona. It will definitely not be OK if he is in Hong Kong.” Mendy later clarified it was merely a joke.
Guardiola insisted the game against the Blues will be treated like a final, with Maurizio Sarri’s side handing him his first defeat of the season at Stamford Bridge in the reverse fixture.
“I have a lot of respect [for Chelsea],” admitted Guardiola. “The game Sunday is a final for us. We have to play in that way.
“We have played one more game. Liverpool and Tottenham and Chelsea have one more.
“But we cannot deny it. A few days ago we could be seven points (behind) and now we’re in the position we’re in.”
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