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‘We need a player who keeps the ball!’ – Pep Guardiola defends early Kevin De Bruyne substitution after touchline spat with Man City midfielder in Liverpool draw
Pep Guardiola has clarified his decision to substitute Kevin De Bruyne during Manchester City’s draw with Liverpool, which elicited a frustrated reaction from the star player.
During the pivotal Premier League match at Anfield, with City and Liverpool deadlocked at 1-1, De Bruyne was replaced with just over 20 minutes remaining. The substitution visibly irked the attacking midfielder, who was later seen discussing the matter with Guardiola while seated on the bench.
However, Guardiola has dismissed any notion of discord between them and explained that he brought on Mateo Kovacic instead to enhance his team’s ability to maintain possession.
Asked about De Bruyne’s frustration, Guardiola told Sky Sports: “That’s good. Have a chance next game to prove it. We need a player who keeps the ball. Its not about pressing. Kovacic is really good at that. We were happy with Kevin. It’s not a problem. We’re fine.”
Kevin De Bruyne played a crucial role in Manchester City’s performance during the heavyweight clash at Anfield. His delivery from a corner led to City taking the lead when John Stones redirected the ball into the net after 23 minutes.
Despite City’s strong first-half display, they faced a tougher challenge after halftime, with Liverpool equalizing from a penalty converted by Alexis Mac Allister after goalkeeper Ederson fouled Darwin Nunez. The match ultimately ended in a 1-1 draw.
Following Sunday’s result, Manchester City finds themselves in third place in the Premier League standings, trailing Liverpool and Arsenal by just one point.
De Bruyne is expected to return to the starting lineup for City’s upcoming FA Cup match against Newcastle, while Liverpool will shift their focus to their Europa League encounter against Sparta Prague on Thursday.