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Published on 2024-02-27 12:18:46
Manchester City has been facing concerns over Kevin De Bruyne’s fitness in recent weeks. The midfielder is still not fully recovered from a four-month lay-off, and despite starting in four of the previous five matches before the Brentford game, Pep Guardiola has had to manage his minutes carefully to prevent any setbacks.
There was cause for alarm when De Bruyne was left on the bench as an unused substitute against Brentford, despite City struggling to secure a win. He did not participate in the pre-game warm-up or any warm-ups during the match. Guardiola confirmed that this cautious approach was due to a hamstring issue that De Bruyne had picked up.
Speaking about the decision to leave De Bruyne out, Guardiola said, “We did not use Kevin today because he has niggles in his hamstring position. He’s okay. It’s more caution and prevention than anything. He didn’t feel comfortable and the doctors said there was a little bit of risk. After five months off, we did not take any risk with that.”
While De Bruyne did make a substitute appearance in the next game against Bournemouth, his impact was limited. The concern now is that City is entering a crucial period of the season with key matches against the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool, and Arsenal in March. These games could have a significant impact on their title challenge in the Premier League.
City has been struggling to break down opposition defenses in recent games, and De Bruyne’s return could provide the spark needed to overcome this challenge. The Belgian has already made a significant impact since his return, contributing a goal and four assists in his last six games.
Keeping De Bruyne fit for the remainder of the season could be Guardiola’s biggest challenge, as his presence on the pitch could be the difference between City winning or losing the Premier League title. The team will be relying on his creativity and leadership to navigate through the tough fixtures ahead.
In conclusion, De Bruyne’s fitness will be closely monitored in the coming weeks as City aims to secure their position at the top of the league table. Guardiola will need to strike a balance between utilizing De Bruyne’s talents and ensuring his long-term well-being to maximize their chances of success.
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