Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola denied any rift with Kevin De Bruyne and insisted the playmaker's absence from the team is due to fitness concerns.
Last year's Premier League champions have not won in seven games across all competitions - their worst run under Guardiola - and De Bruyne has featured only as a substitute in the last five of those matches after recovering from a pelvic injury.
The superstar Belgian midfielder was injured during City’s Champions League match with Inter Milan on September 18 and hasn't started since.
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Guardiola and De Bruyne during a recent City game. Getty
A number of prominent pundits, including former City defender and club ambassador Micah Richards, have questioned why De Bruyne has not been featuring.
Richards said on The Rest is Football podcast that it appeared “there’s some sort of rift going on” between De Bruyne and Guardiola.
Now, Guardiola has responded in his news conference ahead of City's clash against Nottingham Forest on Thursday morning (AEDT).
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“People say I’ve got a problem with Kevin," the coach said.
"Do you think I like to not play with Kevin? No, I don’t want Kevin to play? The guy who has the most talent in the final third — I don’t want it?
"I have a personal problem with him after nine years together? He’s delivered to me the biggest success to this club, but he’s been five months injured and two months injured.
Kevin De Bruyne has been a stalwart for the club for almost a decade. Getty
"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’m desperate to have his best.”
The pair have spoken of the pain De Bruyne was in after his injury against Inter and the need to ease him back into action.
De Bruyne is in the final year of his contract. He joined the club in 2015.
“I’d love to have the Kevin in his prime, 26 or 27. He would love it too - but he is not 26 or 27 anymore," Guardiola said.
“He had injuries in the past, important and long ones. He is a guy who needs to be physically fit for his space and energy. You think I’m complaining? It’s normal, it’s nature.
"He’s played in 10 or 11 seasons a lot of games and I know he is desperate to help us. He gives glimpses of brilliance that only he can have."