Star midfielder Kevin De Bruyne’s contract with Manchester City is set to expire at the end of June, meaning he is free to speak to foreign clubs about a free transfer
Star midfielder Kevin De Bruyne’s contract with Manchester City is set to expire at the end of June, meaning he is free to speak to foreign clubs about a free transfer Star midfielder Kevin De Bruyne’s contract with Manchester City is set to expire at the end of June, meaning he is free to speak to foreign clubs about a free transfer
Master tactician Pep Guardiola admits he’s stumped trying to work out why he can’t lift his Manchester City players.
They host West Ham on Saturday looking to secure the rarity of back-to-back wins. That seems absurd for a side that has bagged four Premier League titles in a row, but Sunday’s 2-0 victory over Leicester was only a second victory in 14 games – a sign of just how far they’ve tumbled.
Guardiola hopes it’s a turning point after their shambolic run. But he’s not naive either. Amid their alarming fall from grace, the Catalan has had to make some big calls on gilded, loyal players, such as Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker, who have helped him secure an astonishing 18 trophies.
But Guardiola maintained: “It’s not now that I realised. The call is on me first. I’m unbelievably honest with myself. I know the reason why we arrive and the main, main reason, it is me. Not the players.
“They naturally drop a little bit and that’s normal. It happened even last season. But with this consistency (of results) I should have found it and it didn’t happen and that is why we’re in this position.”
He added: “I blame [myself]. It’s not to say, ‘oh how nice is Pep’ No. it’s the truth. I lead that group of players and I could not lift them so far. This is the reality. Why in the past they followed me, they were able to get results?
“For one or two months, we were the only unbeaten team in Europe and top of the league. Immediately we went down. For injuries, many things we’ve talked about. But even with that, I should have found a way to get better results. Hopefully we can continue now. That’s why the Leicester win was important.
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“One result is not going to change my perspective on how the team is right now. But at the same time hopefully results can help with our belief and composure. We’ve an opportunity against West Ham to make another victory which will always help.”
Meanwhile, influential midfielder De Bruyne, 33, can now speak to clubs abroad about a summer move. Guardiola insisted it wasn’t “my business” when asked if he was in talks with the Belgian about extending his contract which is up at the end of the season and “the club has to think about it.”
He’s had injury and fitness issues in the last couple of campaigns and the manager admitted: “He had problems in the last year and year and half. But when he’s consistent, fit and can play regularly, he’s a really important player for us. But it’s going to happen for the club and how he’s going to perform until the end of the season, the age he is at and many things.”
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Mirror – Sport