Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has revealed the extent of the injury suffered by his new captain Kevin De Bruyne in their season opener against Burnley.
The Belgian midfield maestro only lasted for 36 minutes in the first half of the game, as he had to be substituted after aggravating a niggling injury. The 32-year-old is now set to sit out most of the first half of the Premier League 2023/24 season as revealed by Guardiola, who knew it was a risk to have played him in the first place.
“It’s serious. We have to decide surgery or no surgery but he will be out for a few months,” Guardiola told reporters on Tuesday at the press conference for Manchester City’s UEFA Super Cup game against Sevilla, the winners of the UEFA Europa League.
“(A decision on surgery will be taken) in the next few days. It will be three or four months.”
Guardiola was also asked about the handling of De Bruyne’s injury. The player had suffered a recurrence of the same injury.
He limped off in the UEFA Champions League final match against Internazionale and had to watch from the sidelines as Man City lifted their first-ever European title. He was reportedly still recovering when he was included in the squad that took on Arsenal in the FA Community Shield, which City lost.
Now, he has aggravated the same hamstring and a surgery that will keep him out for months is on the table. The former Barcelona manager responded to the question, saying, “We could say ‘don’t play’ but this injury could happen later.
“Before I took the decision I spoke to the doctor, the physio and him. He said he felt good.”
He also talked briefly about signing a replacement for De Bruyne to cover for the Belgian in the next four months of his absence. The club has been linked with Lucas Paquetá who West Ham have slapped a £95 million price tag on.
“We will see (about signing a replacement for De Bruyne),” Guardiola said about signing De Bruyne’s replacement. “After what happened we will see the possibilities.”
Guardiola also talked about the upcoming fixture against Sevilla and expressed his wariness of the club that has become a Europa League legend and a staple in the UEFA Super Cup thanks to the number of wins they have in Europe’s second-tier competition in the 21st century.
“Sevilla have special character, it’s something in the DNA that makes this team different. They will be dangerous against us,” Guardiola said.
