Pep Guardiola has admitted that his decision to leave Kevin De Bruyne as an unused sub in Manchester City’s 3-1 defeat at Real Madrid on Wednesday night was not a consequence of an injury.The Belgian midfielder had played 84 minutes in the first leg, but Guardiola felt he had better options for the return leg.Hey, Pep, will KDB extend? Not my businessExplaining why he left KDB benched, the City boss said: “Decisions. My decision. “Yeah, of course [he can still play in big games], he played against Madrid at home, of course he can play.”Guardiola added: “The relationship with Kevin De Bruyne is exceptional. I can’t be thankful enough for what he’s done for me, the team, everyone. It’s just a decision.”Normally, I don’t speak with players, not just Kevin, about why they don’t play. They don’t ask me why when I decide to let them play from the beginning or during.Mr. Kevin De Bruyne, if this is the end, it has been a privilege and a pleasure✨ pic.twitter.com/skKLklYRDX— Josh (@Joshua_MCI) February 21, 2025 “It’s just a decision from what I’ve seen, for many reasons, a few. Never ever is it personal, never ever I’m upset. Also, Jeremy [Doku] didn’t play, and his last game was in Ipswich, [when he] played unbelievably, and after that, was injured. But maybe for the demands, the way we now need to play because of the absences or strengths that we have and physicality and many things, we need a game of more control and not up and down. It’s not personal, I decide the decisions, that’s all, no more than that.”##NAJAVA_MECA_8726892##De Bruyne’s current Manchester City contract is due to expire in June. He has made 408 first-team appearances for City to date, scoring 105 goals and providing 173 assists. He has won 16 team trophies with City, including the Premier League on six occasions.
