Well, just when Manchester City fans thought nothing could go wrong following the return of Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne, it seemed like the team could be in for a setback just days before the last stretch of the season. De Bruyne was kept out of the team’s clash against Brentford earlier this week. However, while fans expected the team to field the Belgian during the weekend, it seems like Pep Guardiola does not have a positive update!
The Manchester City boss updated on De Bruyne’s situation during his press conference before the Bournemouth game. Pep Guardiola spoke about his decision to keep the Belgian on the sidelines, adding, “Good. He’s not injured. I don’t know if he’s 100% but I think we took a good decision not to take a risk (against Brentford). We took a decision because he did not feel comfortable.”
According to reports, while the midfielder will travel with the first team to the Vitality Stadium, his time on the field will be decided following a last-minute assessment. City does not wish to take risks with the player, which is understandable considering his importance to the team and their success.
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Pep Guardiola on Kevin De Bruyne: "Good. He's not injured. I don't know if he's 100% but I think we took a good decision not to take a risk (against Brentford). We took a decision because he did not feel comfortable." [via @SamLee] https://t.co/eQvIEcKnYa
— City Xtra (@City_Xtra) February 23, 2024
Likewise, Kevin De Bruyne has featured regularly for the club since his return before missing out on the clash against Brentford earlier this week. The player’s return to the club has been a boost for the side, with De Bruyne helping the team clinch multiple wins after falling behind in the initial parts of the game.
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How has Kevin De Bruyne fared since his return?
The Belgian superstar has put on some outstanding performances, following his return from the hamstring injury. Kevin De Bruyne, following his return, has given a massive boost to Manchester City’s attack, bagging two goals and seven assists. The midfielder has completed an average of 38.8 passes per game while generating 2.8 key passes each game.
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With the stunning quality of the midfield maestro, he has been accurate with passes, with the player completing 83.8% of his passes. The player has also made decent contributions to the offense, generating 2.3 shots on target per game. Fans hope the player can reach optimal fitness in the coming weeks as the Cityzens approach a challenging string of fixtures following the game against Bournemouth.