Pep Guardiola responds to Kevin De Bruyne criticism after recent drop in Manchester City minutes

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola believes Kevin De Bruyne will benefit from going back to his principles after the midfielder started Saturday’s 1-0 win over Crystal Palace on the bench.

De Bruyne was amongst the substitutes as a late Erling Haaland penalty sealed a hard-fought victory for the Premier League champions at Selhurst Park.

The Belgium international, who has scored five times and provided 18 assists in 34 outings across all competitions this season, was however brought on for Bernardo Silva after 79 minutes.

Since the Qatar World Cup, De Bruyne has received criticism for seemingly lacklustre displays despite a commendable output in terms of goals and assists for Manchester City.

The 31-year-old feels he is held to greater standards than most players in his position, undeniably down to the incredible bar the former Chelsea man has set for himself since he joined City from Wolfsburg in 2015.

Despite the noise in the background, De Bruyne is in line to feature in his side’s Champions League Round of 16 return leg against RB Leipzig at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday evening.

The opening leg in Germany saw City take a crucial lead through Riyad Mahrez but an underwhelming collective showing from the Blues saw a spirited Leipzig force a 1-1 draw, with Josko Gvardiol levelling for Marco Rose’s men after 70 minutes.

With four wins in four heading into the second leg, City will be keen on building on their recent run of form and sealing a berth in the last eight of the Champions League ahead of an FA Cup quarter-final meeting with Vincent Kompany’s Burnley this weekend.

Addressing the criticism directed at De Bruyne in a press conference on Monday afternoon, Pep Guardiola said: “(It has been) a difficult season for all of us, me included – (with) the World Cup, many things.

“I’m not going to score for Kevin (De Bruyne), it’s his ability. I’d like him to go to the principles. He has incredible ability to score and pass. Always I believe (that) they will increase with simple things – don’t lose the balls.”

Guardiola is understood to be referring to a hint of carelessness that has seemingly crept into De Bruyne’s game in recent months, expectedly though as the four-time Premier League winner is renowned for his ability to execute passes of the highest order and precision.

“Simple things, do it again, get better. When this happens, the rest will come,” Guardiola added on De Bruyne. “Like Erling (Haaland), he will score and be involved – it means you are in the game.

“Kevin (De Bruyne) is the same, the simple things perfectly, move outside, inside, attack the channels. The actions to create incredible passes will be easier.”

De Bruyne is expected to return to the starting XI on Tuesday as City switch their focus to Europe amidst their hunt of Arsenal, who maintained their five-point lead at the top of the Premier League with a comfortable 3-0 triumph over Fulham on Sunday.

A big European night at the Etihad Stadium gives De Bruyne the perfect stage to remind his critics of the quality he possesses, with Guardiola likely to shuffle his pack and revert to his most trusted men against Leipzig on Tuesday.