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Rob Dawson, Correspondent
Pep Guardiola has hit back at suggestions he is not selecting Kevin De Bruyne because of a rift with the Manchester City midfielder.
De Bruyne has been restricted to five substitute appearances since returning from an abdominal injury suffered against Inter Milan in September.
Guardiola waited until City were 2-0 down against Liverpool on Sunday before introducing the 33-year-old from the bench.
It prompted Sky Sports pundits Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher to speculate that there is a simmering problem between the player and manager.
Neville said the situation with De Bruyne is “unusual, bizarre, strange” and that “something is definitely going on in the dressing room.”
It was a view backed up by Carrager, who said “something is going on with De Bruyne” and “something isn’t right if he isn’t in the team when he is fit.”
In a news conference on Tuesday, Guardiola was not asked directly about the situation with De Bruyne. Instead, he addressed it unprompted.
“People say I’ve got a problem with Kevin,” Guardiola said.
“Do you think I like to not play with Kevin? No, I don’t want Kevin to play. The guy who has the most talent in the final third. I don’t want it. I have a personal problem with him after nine years together.
“He’s delivered to me the biggest success to this club. But he’s been five months injured and two months injured. He’s 33-years-old.
“He needs time to find his best. Like last season, step by step. He’ll try to do it and feel better. I’m desperate to have his best.”
Guardiola hinted De Bruyne could return to the team when they next play — against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Wednesday — after he played the final 12 minutes at Anfield.
City are hoping to end a run of seven games without a win when they line up against Nuno Espírito Santo’s side, who sit sixth in the Premier League table.
Four consecutive league defeats has seen City slip to fifth.
While Guardiola is keen to have De Bruyne back, he is warned that the Belgium international will “not solve our problems.”
“I’d love to have the Kevin in his prime — 26 or 27,” Guardiola said.
“He would love it too. But he is not 26 or 27 anymore. He had injuries in the past, important and long ones. He is a guy who needs to be physically fit for his space and energy.
“He played in 10 or 11 seasons a lot of games. I know he is desperate to help us, he gives glimpses of brilliance that only he can have.
“But always I said, he himself will not solve our problems. Like Erling [Haaland] won’t solve it himself. We attack and defend together. We want the best players back. Hopefully step by step the confidence will come back and we’ll get the best of all of us.”