For the first time this season, the Skyblues playmaker remained on the bench for the entire game. A surprising choice when you consider that the Red Devil had already been rested against Chelsea in the FA Cup on January 8 and for 45 minutes against Southampton three days later. It was also only the second time that KDB started a match on the bench in the Premier League. The first time was against Nottingham (6-0 victory) to allow them to rest before the first match of the Champions League.
A possible lead to explain his benching could come from the fact that the Devil missed collective training at the start of the week. Not due to injury but more “because of a personal problem”said Pep Guardiola in a press conference before the match against Spurs, specifying nevertheless that he was ready to play the match.
For part of the English press, his benching would be more a form of punishment following his poor performance against the Red Devils last weekend when the Skyblues lost 2-1. The Red Devil would not have been the only victim of this poor performance since John Stones and Rico Lewis replaced Walker and Cancelo in defense while Foden and Bernardo Silva had to give way to Alvarez and Grealish.
Asked by the Nieuwsblad, the player’s entourage nevertheless wanted to reassure: “Kevin has indeed missed a training but he is not sanctioned. There is no reason for this. Don’t worry.”
Make KDB’s benching an example
It is still possible that Pep Guardiola wanted to set an example with the benching of Kevin De Bruyne (as well as other key players) against Spurs. The Citizens are not in great shape and the Spanish manager wanted to wake up his group.
In an interview after the game against Tottenham, he was also very critical of the mentality of his players: “I can’t deny the fact that we are very happy after Thursday’s game, but we are very far from the level we had”he explained before completing his thought, “my players play because ‘the manager told me to play like this and how to get there’, but it doesn’t come from the bottom of my heart or guts.”
Facing the Londoners, the Spaniard is also aware that his team was very lucky: “Sooner or later, we will drop points again. We lack passion, fire and the desire to win from the first minute”he was acerbic, specifying that it was also his role to put “the club at the place”.
More surprisingly, Guardiola also lashed out at his own supporters who whistled at the players at half-time: “They whistled us because we were losing but maybe it’s the same problem as our team. Maybe it was too comfortable to win four Premier Leagues in the last five years.” he said, drawing the parallel with Arsenal who have not won the Premier League for 20 years, “I would also like to find the support of the fans at the Etihad Stadium. I want their support for every corner and every action. We have to do it but everyone is relaxed.”
With such declarations, Pep Guardiola seeks to wake up his whole club, from the players to the supporters so that they find the sacred fire and the desire to fight. Starting with Kevin De Bruyne, who despite his status is no longer an untouchable, his coach has just given him the best proof.