Pep Guardiola has opened up on his controversial decision to bench Kevin De Bruyne for today's Premier League clash between Manchester City and Fulham.
The Belgium international will be playing his last match for the Citizens, with reports indicating that he's set to leave the Etihad Stadium for Napoli.
De Bruyne is one of City's greatest players, having established himself as a club icon ever since his arrival in January 2015.
He has, however, been left out of the starting XI for his farewell fixture against Fulham today.
Kevin De Bruyne has been benched for Man City's Premier League clash with Fulham on Sunday
PA
Guardiola has now opened up on his decision, with the Spaniard suggesting he feels De Bruyne would better off the bench - having played in midweek.
"Always it is, with him especially," he said when asked if it was a tricky call to make.
"But it's 95 minutes and a tough game, physical, and maybe I decide I prefer Kevin for a few minutes at the end than at the beginning."
Another player left out is Jack Grealish.
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The England star has been snapped out on the town in recent weeks, leading to rumours that he could be cut loose this summer.
Like De Bruyne, he's also been linked with a move to Napoli.
Guardiola explained Grealish's snub by saying it was merely down to 'selection', rather than anything to do with his antics.
Meanwhile, speaking before today's match at Craven Cottage, Guardiola paid tribute to De Bruyne.
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Kevin De Bruyne will leave Man City as a club legend
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"When the decision is shared and both agree, it's easier," he said when asked about City's decision not to give De Bruyne a new deal.
"When it's not, because Kevin would have liked to stay and the club decides not to, it's always difficult.
"It's many years, many days, many training sessions, many games, many joys and many bad moments; so many things that come together in a moment when you'll never be together again.
"Obviously, they'll be there when we see each other, but in the day-to-day, when you go to the chat and see that place where he was sitting...oh God, he's not there anymore."
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And the City boss also said he was pleased to have Rodri back from injury, with the Spaniard also benched for the fixture against Fulham.
“We’re really pleased he’s back, really pleased for the reaction for our people to him, I’m pretty sure he’s so pleased with that," he said.
“There’s still a long way to be the Rodri he was.
“Guess will be next season we start to be Rodri not in the way like we have seen before the injury where he played 70 games every three days.
Pep Guardiola believes Kevin De Bruyne is better off on the bench for today's match between Man City and Fulham
PA“It will take longer for that because the experience with this surgery is to be careful otherwise have muscular problems and this kind of stuff.
“But this is the first step for mind and knee still is not to see Rodri the way we know him.”
