Pep Guardiola has insisted that Kevin De Bruyne‘s primary focus is on helping Manchester City beat Bournemouth in the Premier League on Tuesday to boost their Champions League qualification hopes.
The legendary playmaker is expected to feature in some capacity in his final match as a Citizens player at the Etihad Stadium before leaving upon the expiration of his contract at the end of the season, bringing the curtain down on a glittering 10 years at the club.
De Bruyne started as captain and played for over 100 minutes at Wembley Stadium where Man City suffered a 1-0 defeat against Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final last Saturday.
The 33-year-old and his teammates have since been resting and preparing for their important Premier League encounter with Bournemouth, with sixth-placed Man City keen to claim maximum points to climb back into the top five and supercharge their Champions League ambitions.
Ahead of what is expected to be an emotional evening on Tuesday for De Bruyne and everyone associated with Man City, Guardiola has refused to confirm whether the Belgian will start, but he has said that the midfielder’s priority is to help the team prevail against the Cherries.
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De Bruyne focused on firing Man City into Champions League
Speaking about De Bruyne at a press conference on Monday, Guardiola said: “Kevin wants us to win the game to qualify for the Champions League next season. This is what Kevin wants. It could not be otherwise.
“I am going to decide the best, the best players to win the game against Bournemouth, that’s for sure.
“Kevin will get or deserve what he deserves. That is the best moment and best compliment for his incredible trajectory and what he has done.
“I have said many times, without him and the other incredible other legends in the club it would not be possible what we have done these many, many years since Sheikh Mansour took over this club and run this club to reach another level.”
Man City expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany believes that De Bruyne’s place in the first XI is “the most nailed on start you’ll ever see in the history of football” and has backed the Belgian to “take control of the game” against Bournemouth.
Meanwhile, Guardiola was asked if he is confident of Man City finishing in the top five and qualifying for the Champions League, and he said: “Absolutely.
“Of course it’s important. We have been the last 13, 14, 15 years in the Champions League but if we don’t we don’t deserve it and we will play the Europa League, [but] I’m thinking we are going to qualify.”
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De Bruyne ‘probably won’t play’ at Club World Cup
Guardiola has also revealed that he is yet to speak with De Bruyne about his availability for the FIFA Club World Cup, which is taking place in United States and will begin in the middle of June.
De Bruyne, who recently delivered a fresh update on his future, has already hinted that an appearance at the newly-expanded tournament is unlikely, telling reporters: “I think in a way I have to take care of myself because if I get injured at the Club World Cup, what am I going to do?
“Nobody’s going to take care of me at that point, so there’s a big chance probably I won’t play it, but I don’t know, maybe yes.
“[The situation] doesn’t make any sense (holding the Club World Cup immediately after a domestic season), but I think that happens when you push in new tournaments in the middle of this contract situation. But I’m just a player. I don’t make the rules, I can’t do anything about it.
“So in the end, like I said, I’ll probably have to take care of myself what is a normal decision. We can speak about it but I don’t know.”
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Guardiola issues brief injury update before Bournemouth clash
While the prospect of De Bruyne starting against Bournemouth is seemingly not guaranteed, Guardiola has delivered an injury update on Rodri, Nathan Ake, John Stones and Oscar Bobb.
Asked whether any injured players could return on Tuesday, Guardiola said: “We’ll see. Some players are better. Rodri is even better day-by-day, we’ll see.”
Rodri (ACL/fitness), Ake (foot) and Bobb (hamstring) have all take part in partial training sessions recently and are making progress in their respective recoveries, but the chances of them featuring in Tuesday’s matchday squad appear to be slim.
Meanwhile, it is understood that there is no change with Stones’s situation as he continues to recover from a long-term thigh problem.
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