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Tag: De Bruyne

  • EPL: De Bruyne ‘isn’t leaving’ Man City – Guardiola

    EPL: De Bruyne ‘isn’t leaving’ Man City – Guardiola

    Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has said influential midfielder Kevin de Bruyne will stay at the club.

    De Bruyne has been heavily linked with a summer move to Saudi Arabia.

    He has one-year left on his Blues contract and said last month he would have to consider an offer from the Saudi Pro-League because of the “incredible money” available.

    However, Guardiola is unconcerned.

    “Kevin isn’t leaving,” he told reporters before his side’s opening pre-season game against Celtic in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, on Wednesday (00:30 BST).

    De Bruyne helped inspire City to the Premier League title last season, the club’s fourth in a row and his sixth in total at the club.

    Crystal Palace’s England Euro 2024 squad member Eberechi Eze has been linked with a move to City, while Brazil goalkeeper Ederson has also been the subject of interest from Saudi Arabia.

    But Guardiola feels it is more likely he will have the same squad as last season.

    Read Also: Man City duo De Bruyne and Doku in Belgium squad

    “If someone leaves, we are going to talk about that and, of course, until the last day [of the transfer window] we have chances,” he said.

    “I don’t rule out new players as an option, but I think there is an 85, 90, 95% chance we will have the same squad.”

    City begin their Premier League title defence at Chelsea on 18 August.

  • Injured De Bruyne, Ederson to miss FA Cup

    Injured De Bruyne, Ederson to miss FA Cup

    Midfielder Kevin De Bruyne and goalkeeper Ederson will miss Manchester City’s FA Cup quarter-final game against Newcastle United due to injuries, manager Pep Guardiola has  said.

    Ederson was forced to come off during their 1-1 Premier League draw with Liverpool following a challenge on Darwin Nunez, conceding a penalty.

    Meanwhile, De Bruyne has a groin strain which resulted in him being left out of Belgium’s squad for friendlies with Ireland and England this month.

    “Kevin’s not ready. He already played in Anfield with some problems. But he’s getting better. He’s not ready for tomorrow. We spoke with Belgium manager Domenico Tedesco and he decided,” Guardiola told reporters ahead of Saturday’s game.

    Read Also: Guardiola laments over injured De Bruyne

    “I’m grateful because he didn’t feel good and he could recover for the rest of the season. He played well (against Liverpool). All the players have problems, but the day after he didn’t feel good, it’s better to take care.

    “Eddie (Ederson) is getting better, hopefully he’ll be ready after the international break. Tomorrow, for sure (he will not play). He’ll have two weeks off then, he’ll recover, we’ll see how he feels.”

    Guardiola also confirmed Jack Grealish has returned from a groin injury and will be a part of the squad.

     Grealish has not played since their 6-2 win over Luton Town in the FA Cup fifth round.

    City are facing Newcastle for the fourth time this season, having beaten them twice in the league, but Eddie Howe’s side knocked them out of the League Cup in September.

  • Guardiola laments over injured De Bruyne

    Guardiola laments over injured De Bruyne

    Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said a brutal schedule was not allowing players to rest “mentally or physically” after revealing Kevin De Bruyne could miss the rest of the year with a hamstring injury.

    De Bruyne limped off early in City’s 3-0 win over Burnley to open the Premier League season on Friday.

    The 32-year-old had suffered a similar injury in the Champions League final just over two months ago as City beat Inter Milan to become European champions for the first time.

    “It’s a serious injury,” said Guardiola ahead of the UEFA Super Cup between City and Sevilla in Athens. “We have to decide surgery or not surgery.”

    He added: “Surgery I think will be three or four months out.”

    De Bruyne joins a list of high-profile players to go down early in the new campaign.

    Chelsea’s Christopher Nkunku had to undergo knee surgery on an injury picked up on a poor pitch during a pre-season friendly in Chicago.

    Arsenal’s new £40 million ($50 million) defender Jurrien Timber and Aston Villa duo Tyrone Mings and Emi Buendia have all reportedly suffered anterior cruciate ligament injuries.

    “In my first pre-season with Barcelona we had 25 days of preparation before the first game, which was a Champions League qualifier. This season we had four or five before the first game,” added Guardiola.

    “Look at all the cruciate ligament injuries there have been in all the big leagues this start of the season. The players don’t rest either physically or mentally.

    “They make them travel to Asia or America for the club’s purposes and play really hard games on bad pitches and the players get injured, or will get injured, because they don’t have these 25 days to prepare.”

    City have already lost two of their most potent attacking players from last season as Ilkay Gundogan joined Barcelona and Riyad Mahrez departed for Saudi club Al-Ahli.

    The English champions have been linked with a move for West Ham’s Lucas Paqueta, but Guardiola refused to be drawn on whether they will now be forced into the transfer market for an attacking midfielder.

    He still has the likes of Phil Foden and Julian Alvarez to call upon to deputise, but said De Bruyne’s skill set is “irreplaceable”.

    “Kevin has specific qualities. To lose it for a long time is really tough for us.

    “At the same time we have to look forward. The skills for Kevin is irreplaceable but we have players with different talent.”