EPL: Guardiola confirms De Bruyne for Tottenham clash

By Daily Sports Nigeria on January 19, 2023

Pep Guardiola has confirmed Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne is available to face Tottenham on Thursday despite missing a training session this week.

De Bruyne was absent from City training on Tuesday after being given time off for personal reasons ahead of Tottenham’s visit to the Etihad Stadium in the Premier League.

The Belgium midfielder’s absence was noted when a television crew filmed part of the training session.

But City Pep Guardiola told reporters on Wednesday that De Bruyne is set to feature for the champions in the crucial clash against Antonio Conte’s team.

“He had a personal issue and could not train but today he is back,” Guardiola said.

Guardiola also revealed City centre-backs Ruben Dias and John Stones are also hoping to return against Tottenham after injury lay-offs.

Portugal’s Dias has not featured since the World Cup due to a thigh injury, while England international Stones has missed the past three games with an unspecified fitness issue.

“They are back. They have trained really well in the last two sessions, both. They are in contention,” Guardiola said.

“We are going to train this afternoon and see the way we have to play and who is going to play.”

City are hoping to bounce back after their controversial 2-1 defeat at arch rivals Manchester United on Saturday.

Arguments raged over the nature of United’s game-changing equaliser, when Bruno Fernandes’ strike was allowed to stand despite Marcus Rashford being offside and appearing to interfere with play in the build-up.

Rashford compounded City’s frustration by grabbing the winner moments later to leave City trailing leaders Arsenal by eight points.

Refusing to let his players feel sorry for themselves, Guardiola has no intention of dwelling on the frustrating result.

“It’s over, it’s past. We are not going to change anything now, so the focus is Tottenham. Two minutes later, in the dressing room, that was my message to the team,” he said.

“We have to improve our game, control what we can control. This is what big teams have to do. It is the past, and that is all.”

Guardiola conceded City have not been at their best of late, with the United defeat coming after a limp League Cup quarter-final loss at Southampton.

“Our fluidity has not been as good as usual. Sometimes, to make chances you need to make a good build-up, put the ball inside to open and spread the defensive lines and we struggled in the last two games,” he said.

Source Punch Ng

Posted January 19, 2023


 

You may also like...
Liverpool Captain Calm Over Lack of Signings

Sevilla top La Liga ahead of Barcelona after...

EURO 2016 - Iceland knock England out of...

Young talents shine at Lagos football trials

Arsenal’s Barclays Premier League title hopes suffer another...

I Can’t Wait For AFCON 2019 — Onyekuru...

 

Latest News Basketball: MFM, First Bank maintain league dominance Haye backs Itauma to beat Joshua, Fury NPFL woos NTA after N6bn StarTimes deal collapse Okonkwo’s WNBA hardship contract ends Lagos aims for dominance as youth games begins NSC confirms 6,382-man contingent for Youth Games Anambra First Lady Bids Farewell To Team Anambra, Charges Them To Surpass Records At 2025 NYG In Asaba Amaechi targets consistency at World Champs NPFL to probe more players over betting allegations Super Eagles’ Nwabali suffers injury ahead of World Cup qualifiers Over 6,300 athletes set for ninth national youth games in Delta Rasheedat Ajibade signs for Paris Saint-Germain until 2027

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (56,318 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (47,488 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (45,472 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (45,073 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (45,057 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (45,055 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (44,870 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (44,418 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (43,529 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (42,132 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (40,570 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (39,992 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media