Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola clarified his decision to leave Kevin De Bruyne out of the starting lineup in their recent match against Real Madrid. According to Guardiola, the choice was purely tactical and not due to any injury concerns.
Guardiola’s Tactical Decision
Guardiola stated, “Kevin De Bruyne didn’t start against Real Madrid as I made a technical decision. He was NOT injured.” He further emphasised that De Bruyne is still capable of playing in significant matches, highlighting his previous performance against Madrid at home.
Context of the Decision
This decision comes amidst a series of challenging fixtures for Manchester City, with Guardiola previously criticising the congested schedule. The manager has been vocal about the difficulties posed by fixture congestion, which may have influenced his tactical choices.
Recent Developments
In the lead-up to the match, Guardiola had acknowledged Real Madrid’s superiority and faced questions from Carlo Ancelotti regarding his team’s chances. Despite these challenges, Guardiola opted for a lineup that included Jack Grealish and Savinho, as reported earlier this month.