De Bruyne to miss derby clash due to injury: Pep
Mou calls on players to act like men
LONDON, Oct 25, (Agencies): Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne will miss the League Cup game against rivals Manchester United after suffering a knock to the calf, manager Pep Guardiola said.
The 25-year-old sustained the injury during City’s 1-1 Premier League draw with Southampton on Sunday.
However Guardiola was more optimistic about Vincent Kompany’s availability for Wednesday’s derby game after the Belgian international made his first league start since April against Southampton.
“Kevin, no way, he cannot play. Hopefully West Brom but he is doubt even for the weekend,” Guardiola told reporters on Tuesday.
“Pablo (Zabaleta) I think cannot play against United. Vincent (Kompany), I think he can, but I need to see training and regeneration.”
Sunday’s stalemate against Southampton marked City’s fifth consecutive winless game of the season after a blistering start to the campaign with a 10-match winning run in all competitions.
The former Barcelona manager said he will ring in the changes against United at Old Trafford.
“We are going to rotate. Some are going to play. I need to see the players today in training and after we will decide the team,” he added.
“We didn’t win in five — young players need to play in a good environment. You have to protect them. We have other options.”
Jose Mourinho will seek a quick response from his United side after a 4-0 humiliation at the hands of Chelsea in the league on Sunday, but Guardiola said he remained wary of United’s threat.
“I always expect the best from United. They are strong team with quality. They are six points behind (in the Premier League table) — just two games.
“Derbies are always special. We are going to try to play seriously and try to win the game.”
Manchester United’s players must behave like men in the wake of their humiliating 4-0 Premier League hammering by Chelsea, manager
Jose Mourinho said on Monday. The Portuguese coach — who sat helplessly as he endured his worst defeat in the Premier League against the club who sacked him last term – wants an immediate reaction against city rivals Manchester City in Wednesday’s League Cup clash.
“We are really, really sad, but again this is not for kids, this is for men and ... we have to be men and work for the next one,” the 53-year-old told the
Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne (right), and Everton’s Gerard Deulofeu vie for the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Everton at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England on Oct 15. (AP)
club’s TV station MUTV.
Mourinho, whose side have won just once in their past six Premier League games, said he was sanguine about United’s recent results and took succour from the fact they would drop points when they play each other.
They trail the trio of table-toppers Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool by six points.
However, their haul of 14 points after nine matches is United’s second worst in their Premier League history — the team in 2014/15 garnering just 13.
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has said that the League Cup will provide an opportunity for him to assess the development of the youngsters in his squad.
Chelsea travel to the Olympic Stadium for the fourth-round Cup tie against West Ham United high on confidence after back-to-back league wins against English champions Leicester City and Manchester United.
Conte gave his vote of confidence for the youngsters in the team, but said he would only play his “trusted” players.
“It’s an important competition for us. We also know this cup can permit you to see some players, above all young players,” Conte told reporters on Tuesday.
“This season we have only this and the FA Cup to see the other players, for this reason probably we can see some change.
“If I decide to play the young players it is because I trust them, not to make a gift.”
Chelsea edged West Ham 2-1 in their opening fixture of the Premier League, and Conte said he once again expects a closely-contested derby game.