Pep Guardiola talks about his soured relationship with Kevin de Bruyne

Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, has responded to reports that he and player Kevin De Bruyne are at odds. De Bruyne has appeared in five games off the bench since his injury recovery. Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher said that there may be a problem between the midfield player and the City boss because of his lack of significant playing time. Guardiola responded to the remarks with a snarky statement.

Pep Guardiola spoke to the media in the post-match press conference as he said, “People say I’ve got a problem with Kevin. 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 noted that De Bruyne has played a significant role in Manchester City's recent success, but he also mentioned that the footballer is currently in his thirties, meaning it will take him longer to return to his peak.

The former FC Barcelona manager said, “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."

Will Kevin de Bruyne stay at Manchester City next season?

At Manchester City, De Bruyne's future is presently unknown. The Belgian midfielder has six months left on his deal. The current season may be his final with the Guardiola-coached team, as he just acknowledged that negotiations for a new contract or extension with his club have been placed on hold.

De Bruyne is still a standout performer for Manchester City, but it is still unclear if he will stay there for the upcoming campaign. At the Etihad Stadium, he scored as Manchester City defeated Nottingham Forest 3-0. De Bruyne may return to the team's starting lineup against Crystal Palace given his recent performance.