Pep Guardiola has admitted that his decision to leave Kevin De Bruyne on the couch in the 3-1 defeat of Manchester City in Real Madrid on Wednesday evening was not a result of an injury.
De Bruyne was an unused sub in the Bernabeu, where a Kylian Mbappe Hat-Trick Madrid dismissed a 6-3 victory over aggregated and city from the Champions League.
The Belgian midfielder had played in the first stage for 84 minutes, but Guardiola thought he had better options for the return game.
Explained why De Bruyne did not stand up on Wednesday, the city boss said: “Decisions. My decision.
'Yes, of course [he can still play in big games]He played at home against Madrid, of course he can play … “
Guardiola added: 'The relationship with Kevin De Bruyne is exceptional. I can't be grateful enough for what he did for me, the team, everyone. It's just a decision.
'Normally I don't talk to players, not just Kevin, about why they don't play. They don't ask me why when I decide to play them from the start or during.
'It's just a decision of what I have seen for many reasons, a few. It is never personal, I am never upset.
'Also Jeremy [Doku] did not play and his last game was in Ipswich, [when] Played incredible and then injured.
'But perhaps for the requirements, the way we now have to play because of the absence or strengths 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 … “
Guardiola's comments about De Bruyne seem to give weight to the fear that he will leave the club at the end of the season.
De Bruyne's current contract will expire in June.
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