Gary Neville believes there is “definitely something going on in the dressing room” at Manchester City amid Kevin de Bruyne’s continued omission from the starting XI.
The Belgian was a late substitute on Sunday night as his side suffered a damaging 2-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield, courtesy of goals from Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah that left the Reds 11 points ahead of the defending champions. .
De Bruyne has battled a hamstring injury in recent seasons, missing 19 games last season with the problem, while this campaign his minutes have been managed after he was forced to miss five games following a recurrence of the same problem.
But with Pep Guardiola’s side needing a result against Liverpool to keep their dwindling title hopes alive, the decision to omit the 33-year-old from the starting team raised some eyebrows, including that of Neville, who believes it. shows that there are some problems within the city camp.
“There are some things that are interesting.” said in the gary neville podcast after the final at Anfield. ‘De Bruyne’s thing is unusual, strange, strange. Why is probably the best player the Premier League has had in the last 10 years not present?
“We know he has had injuries, but why is he not there? Because he is a leader, he has authority, confidence and brilliance, so something is definitely happening in the locker room.”
Gary Neville was one of the experts who raised the idea that something is not right between Kevin de Bruyne and his coach Pep Guardiola.
The former Manchester United defender believes De Bruyne’s absence points to a problem in the City dressing room
The defending champions were swept aside by this season’s runaway leaders, Liverpool.
“Something is happening, but Guardiola has complete (control) of the club, has extended his contract and is probably just waiting for the January and (summer) transfer windows.
‘He “He has built two sensational football teams while at the club and he will have to go build a third.”
Neville’s view was echoed by fellow former Premier League defender Jamie Carragher, who insisted “something is not right” between the attacking midfielder and his manager.
“Something is happening with De Bruyne,” he said on Sky Sports. ‘For me he has been the best player of the last five seasons. He is not a starter in the games and does not come on at half-time today.
“I’m not trying to cause more problems for Manchester City, but something is not right between those two. It’s sad because we are talking about one of the best managers and the best players in the Premier League.
“His contract ends this summer and I know he has had some problems, but something is not right if he is not in the team when he is fit.”
Last summer, De Bruyne was linked with a move away from Etihad as his current contract approached its expiry date. There were reports that the Belgian was open to leaving the club and his absence from the team has only added to more speculation.
Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker also raised the question of whether there is a rift between De Bruyne and Guardiola, who has shown a ruthless streak with City’s stars in recent seasons.
Jamie Carragher also shares the view that De Bruyne, whose contract expires at the end of the season, is not on the same page as his boss.
The 33-year-old has missed a lot of playing time over the past two seasons with a hamstring problem.
‘Is something going on there?’ He said on the Rest is Football podcast. “He’s been training for five to 10 minutes for about a month, so you’d imagine he’s getting in shape.” I even saw them both making interesting statements during the week that seem like all is not well.’
Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards added: “This goes back to before the international break, where he had a few minutes but after the break he didn’t start and then he didn’t start again, but he’s the one who can open a door.”
“We know that with De Bruyne you have to wrap him in cotton wool, especially in previous seasons, but in an important game like this, but even the talks and potentially going to Saudi Arabia at the end of the year, there already seems to be some kind of rift between them .
The City boss, who is in the worst moment of his career, admitted his team “can’t stand” playing good teams at the moment after suffering their fourth Premier League defeat in as many games.
“The teams are good and we can’t stand it now,” Guardiola said. ‘What can I say? These players have given me the opportunity to live perhaps the best years of my life. The only thing I can do is be here to try to find a solution.
“At the right time, the club will make a decision on what is needed to allow this club to remain there.”
City’s recent decline has seen them drop to fifth place in the Premier League. Their next chance to get back to winning ways comes on Wednesday at the Etihad, when they take on high-flying Nottingham Forest before traveling to Selhurst Park to take on a struggling Crystal Palace side on Saturday.