Pep defends De Bruyne over form
PEP Guardiola says he is not contemplating dropping Kevin de Bruyne despite the midfielder struggling for his City form at the moment.
The Belgium international was on the bench as the Blues won at Brighton at the weekend, and started as they lost a penalty shoot-out following a goalless draw with West Ham, to end their five-year unbeaten streak in the Carabao Cup.
That is usually the sign of a player who is not considered first-choice at the moment – Raheem Sterling, Riyad Mahrez, Fernandinho, John Stones, Nathan Ake and Aleks Zinchenko were also in the team after not being picked to start at the weekend.
City return to Premier League action against Crystal Palace on Saturday, and with Bernardo Silva in superb nick, and Ilkay Gundogan coming back strongly after injury, there is every chance De Bruyne will not be in the starting XI once more.
But Guardiola pointed to the player’s dreadful summer of injuries, after he picked up a fractured eye socket in the
Champions League final and then snapped ankle ligaments at Euro 2020.
When asked if he is not playing well enough to make the first-choice team at the moment, Guardiola replied: “Everyone deserves to play, is ready to play.
“Kevin came back from important injuries in the last part of the season and was so important against Liverpool, Chelsea and Brugge. He was there as always. Day by day he will get his best form.”
Meanwhile, Guardiola says he will speak to Phil Foden about his penalty shoot-out miss today.
It was Foden - who volunteered to take the first spot-kick - whose miss eventually cost his team as he dragged his shot wide of the post and the Hammers scored all five.
The 21-year-old looked gutted at the end but Guardiola said he would be left alone last night before having a few words with him today.
“I will speak to him tomorrow,” said Guardiola. “He had the courage to be the first to take one, and unfortunately he missed.
“But when you have the courage to take one, next time it will be much better.”