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Kevin de Bruyne: Pep Guardiola says Man City midfielder finished last season 'exhausted'

By Simon StoneBBC Sport

Last updated on .From the section Man Citycomments293

Manchester City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne
Kevin de Bruyne suffered his latest injury set-back against Fulham in November

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says midfielder Kevin de Bruyne finished last season "exhausted".

De Bruyne, 27, has played just five times for City this season after suffering two significant knee injuries.

The Belgian has started only twice and is yet to complete a full 90 minutes for the Premier League champions.

He has returned to training and was named on the bench for Saturday's early kick-off against Everton (12:30 GMT).

However, after a gruelling 12 months when De Bruyne made 52 appearances in all competitions for City and then played a central role in Belgium's third-place finish at the World Cup, Guardiola feels the enforced break might be beneficial.

The Spanish manager said: "Kevin finished last season exhausted.

"It was so tough for him and when he came back I had the feeling he was a little bit tired.

"Sometimes people recover quite well, sometimes mentally it takes time. We didn't want him to be injured but maybe it helped us because now he's fresh in his mind."

De Bruyne's last appearance was against Fulham in the EFL Cup on 1 November.

Guardiola says City have missed the £55m signing from Wolfsburg even though, until last week's defeat at Chelsea, they had won every Premier League game they had played since that time.

He said: "Kevin is a special player for us.

"He needs to recover his full condition. Hopefully he can avoid more injuries and play regularly again."

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293 comments

  • Comment posted by George Weah, at 22:46 14 Dec 2018

    What a fantastic footballer... His technique striking the ball is just incredible. And his vision is brilliant too. Looking forward to seeing him play again :)

  • Comment posted by John Charles Walsham Reith 1st Baron Reith, at 23:44 14 Dec 2018

    Kevin de Bruyne is a wonderful player. Manchester City are truly blessed to have him in their squad and any genuine lover of football will be glad to see him again.

  • Comment posted by D1679102676020, at 22:47 14 Dec 2018

    Best midfielder in the world when in top form IMO

  • Comment posted by melville_head, at 22:40 14 Dec 2018

    KDB would be missed by any team in the world. Maybe this enforced break will help in the long term

  • Comment posted by D1679614641095, at 22:47 14 Dec 2018

    Tired? he should try doing a proper job...

  • Comment posted by Tony ratcliffe, at 23:08 14 Dec 2018

    Im a city fan of 5 decades and love KDB but exhausted? Give me a break. I remember squads of 16 (partic Lpool) ruling the roost. Sick of managers wanting us to 'feel the pain' of these special players.

  • Comment posted by Googly, at 00:51 15 Dec 2018

    It's a good job Mourinho sold him, otherwise his career would be over by now.

  • Comment posted by SaintDomingo, at 23:18 14 Dec 2018

    Darren from Devon - Seriously man, do you never get tired of sitting there in your bedroom posting utter drivel?

    Get some kind of life, for God's sake.

  • Comment posted by kjs, at 00:04 15 Dec 2018

    Introduce KDB back gradually and pick a nice easy game for his first start. When is the next Utd game?

  • Comment posted by User0642489991, at 23:21 14 Dec 2018

    26 darran the devonian plastic utd fan, we do not care about mid table teams like utd. everton the proper football club from liverpool will give us a good game as usual. entertainment guaranteed unlike at the theatre of screams.

  • Comment posted by silvaware, at 08:35 15 Dec 2018

    I sill dont think some people understand what pep means by exhausted. Don't think its "Morning boss, I feel really tired today after such a long season" more that an athlete's body isnt working to its maximum and is also in danger of injury. Cant be compared to everyone's daily grind, however tough. Also nowhere did the article say KDB was after sympathy.

  • Comment posted by G, at 23:17 14 Dec 2018

    All this L1/2 talk is rubbish, the game in the Premier League is a completely different pace and intensity. No pie eating here!!

  • Comment posted by Guy Hardrock, at 00:09 15 Dec 2018

    Yes... they do need him back. He’s their best player - even in a dream team full of outstanding athletes. Hope he makes a full and complete recovery...

  • Comment posted by Rich_H, at 06:10 15 Dec 2018

    I saw KDB play last season - he was everywhere on the pitch, it was like there were 3 of him, just phenomenal. If he was doing that every week it’s no wonder he was exhausted, the physical and mental toll must have been immense. We should cherish players of his quality and enjoy watching them while we can. I’m not an MCFC fan either, but appreciate real talent.

  • Comment posted by abracadabra, at 04:24 15 Dec 2018

    Some hard working people on here tonight sitting a computer commenting about a professional footballer's work.

    Its not just 90 minutes a week, ask any pro athlete what it takes to be at the top level.

    Secondly have you ever heard anyone no matter what they do; either say their job is easy or they never get tired?

    Even Darren from Devon would admit he gets exhausted.

  • Comment posted by User0642489991, at 23:16 14 Dec 2018

    great news we need king kev back

  • Comment posted by AFCDale, at 22:45 14 Dec 2018

    Aw poor him...tell that to L1/L2 players who potentially play 46 league games plus FA Cup, League Cup and Checkatrade Trophy games.

    Or Non League players who have to go out and graft the morning after their matches.

  • Comment posted by MattD, at 02:30 15 Dec 2018

    21. I’m a Liverpool fan but I have to disagree! While we may have won league titles with squads of 16, the pace was different. Today’s game is absolutely relentless - stronger and faster players and going hellbent for 90 minutes these days is a different proposition from years gone.

  • Comment posted by Gandalf, at 03:07 15 Dec 2018

    There’s something particularly daft about the oft-heard argument that pro footballers have an easy job and shouldn’t be tired. In logic terms, it’s a hypothesis which isn’t grounded in the available empirical data. The reality is that top flight footballers (and other top athletes) do get tired. You can believe that they shouldn’t if you want, but it’s simply a fact of life that they do.

  • Comment posted by redavie, at 22:57 14 Dec 2018

    Not surprised really. The work rate pep demands of his players. De Bruyne said last year he was playing on memory in the second half of the season. Some can do it some can't.. Its the same thing with klopp At the business end of the season the players are knackered.

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