Pep Guardiola has endured a tough spell as Manchester City manager
Pep Guardiola hit back at Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher for claiming he has fallen out with Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne.
Sky pundits Neville and Carragher suggested Guardiola had a personal issue with De Bruyne and cited that as the reason for him not starting City's 2-0 defeat at Liverpool on Sunday.
De Bruyne only came on for the last 12 minutes at Anfield for a defeat which extended City's winless run to seven games – including six defeats.
Neville described the situation between Guardiola and De Bruyne as “bizarre and strange”, while Carragher suggested “something was going on” between the pair.
But Guardiola hit back and said: “People say I’ve got a problem with Kevin. Do you think I like to not play with Kevin? That I don’t want Kevin to play?
“The guy who has the most talent in the final third? I don’t want it? That I have a personal problem with him after nine years together?
“He’s delivered to me the biggest success for this club. But he’s been injured for five months and two months. 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’d love to have Kevin in his prime, at 26 or 27. He would love it, too. But he's not 26 or 27 anymore. He's had injuries in the past, important and long ones. He's a guy who needs to be physically fit for his space and energy.
“But you think I’m complaining about that? It’s normal, it’s nature. He played a lot of games in 10 or 11 seasons. I know he's desperate to help us and he gives glimpses of brilliance that only he can have.
“But like I always said, he alone 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.
“I’m desperate to have his best. I’m desperate for five goals and assists from Phil Foden after last season. Five for Kevin, goals and assists from Jeremy, goals and assists from Jack, from Savinho or Ilkay Gundogan.
“Not 20, 30 or 40. Just five goals and assists from these players and then we’d be top of the league. Why hasn’t it happened? They were not here. They were injured. They weren’t ready. This is the biggest problem I have."
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