Jamie Carragher: 'Something’s Going On with Kevin De Bruyne' After Liverpool Beats Man City
Carragher suggests there may be tension between Kevin De Bruyne and Pep Guardiola following the Belgian's limited role in Manchester City's loss to Liverpool.
Jamie Carragher has raised questions about the relationship between Kevin De Bruyne and Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola after the Belgian midfielder’s limited involvement in their 2-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield.
De Bruyne, who has been one of the Premier League’s standout players in recent years, came on as a late substitute in the 79th minute, with City already trailing by two goals. His appearance, however, was uneventful. In the 82nd minute, De Bruyne did have a chance to reduce the deficit when he dispossessed Virgil van Dijk, setting himself up for a one-on-one with Liverpool’s goalkeeper, Caoimhin Kelleher. Unfortunately, his shot was weak and easily saved.
Carragher, speaking on Sky Sports after the match, was quick to point out that there seemed to be something off between De Bruyne and Guardiola. He said: “Something’s going on with Kevin De Bruyne. Kevin De Bruyne’s been the best player for me in the Premier League for the last five seasons. The fact he’s not starting games, he doesn’t come at half-time… I’m not trying to create more trouble for Manchester City, talking about a story but something is not right there between those two.”
Carragher’s comments points out the ongoing mystery surrounding De Bruyne’s role at City this season. Despite being fully fit after recovering from injury, the 33-year-old has struggled to get back into the starting XI, and when he does make an appearance, it has often been as a late substitute. This has raised doubts about his relationship with Guardiola, as the pair have been central to City’s dominance in recent years.
The lack of minutes for De Bruyne has led to growing speculation about his future at the club. It was recently reported that his contract, which expires at the end of the season, is uncertain, and there are rumors linking him to potential moves to Major League Soccer (MLS) or the Saudi Pro League.
Guardiola has explained that De Bruyne’s absence from the starting lineup is due to fitness concerns. The Manchester City boss stated earlier this season that De Bruyne had not felt fully comfortable after recovering from a thigh injury, which had kept him sidelined for two months. Guardiola emphasized that the Belgian needs to be completely fit to perform at his best, and if he’s not feeling right, he must take more time to recover.
But Carragher’s concerns go deeper, suggesting that there may be more than just fitness issues at play. He feels that De Bruyne’s lack of involvement in key matches, such as Liverpool’s win over City, may be a sign of a larger issue between the player and manager.
Could this tension between Guardiola and De Bruyne lead to a change in the Belgian’s future at City? While it’s still too early to tell, the situation certainly warrants attention. With De Bruyne’s contract set to expire soon, it’s possible that we could see a shift in both his role at Manchester City and his long-term future with the club.
As of now, City fans will be hoping that De Bruyne can regain his full fitness and return to his best form, as his talent is undoubtedly important to the team’s success. However, with the rumors swirling around his future and the uncertainty surrounding his relationship with Guardiola, only time will tell what’s next for one of the Premier League’s greatest ever players.
