Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has revealed that important player Kevin De Bruyne would be absent for several weeks due to a recurrence of a hamstring issue.
De Bruyne was dragged off the field after only 24 minutes in the Premier League opener against Burnley.
Guardiola said that the Belgian had a recurrence of the injury he had in the Champions League final against Inter in June.
Speaking after the game, the tactician said: “Unfortunately he is injured again. A problem in the same position, he said to me, as in the final of the Champions League. It’s a pity because he had recovered well but now we have lost him for a time so we have to reflect, talk to the doctors, see what happened.
“He has to be relaxed, recover, and come back. He was feeling good and playing good in the first minutes. It depends on the magnitude of the injury but will be a few weeks out. Maybe it was my mistake [to play him] but when he is injured after 15-20 minutes it is not something wrong [with the decision] – when it is after 65 minutes it is the fatigue of the muscle.”
It’s unclear how long the Belgian will be out this time, but given that he only lasted 24 minutes the first time, Guardiola is unlikely to rush the 32-year-old back.
The player will be tested to determine the degree of his injury, and a timetable for his comeback will be provided, but it could be some time before the midfielder is seen on the field again.
