Pep Guardiola has revealed that Kevin De Bruyne wasn’t left on the bench against Real Madrid due to injury.
The Man City boss simply made the decision to leave him out.
“Decisions,” Guardiola said at his pre-Liverpool press conference this morning. “My decision.
“Yeah, of course [he can still play in big games], he played against Madrid at home, of course he can play…”
The City manager continued: “The relationship with Kevin 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, on why they don’t play. They don’t ask me why when I decide to let them play from the beginning or during.
“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, played unbelievable, and after 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.
“Don’t tell me why. It’s not personal, I decide the decisions, that’s all, no more than that…”
