Pep Guardiola signals the end of Kevin De Bruyne’s Man City career as he admits star, 33, was not injured when he left him on the bench at Real Madrid – and thanks him for ‘what he’s done’

Pep Guardiola has admitted that his decision to leave Kevin De Bruyne on the bench throughout Manchester City‘s 3-1 defeat at Real Madrid on Wednesday night was not a consequence of an injury.

De Bruyne was an unused sub at the Bernabeu, where a Kylian Mbappe hat-trick fired Madrid to a 6-3 victory on aggregate and dumped City out of the Champions League.

The Belgian midfielder had played 84 minutes in the first leg but Guardiola felt he had better options for the return match.

Explaining why De Bruyne did not feature on Wednesday, the City boss said: ‘Decisions. My decision. 

‘Yeah, of course [he can still play in big games], he played against Madrid at home, of course he can play…’

Guardiola added: ‘The relationship with Kevin De Bruyne is exceptional. I can’t be thankful enough for what he’s done for me, the team, everyone. It’s just a decision.

De Bruyne has made 408 appearances for City since joining the club from Wolfsburg in 2015

‘Normally I don’t speak with players, not just Kevin, on why they don’t play. They don’t ask me why when I decide to let them play from the beginning or during.

‘It’s just a decision from what I’ve seen, for many reasons, a few. Never ever is it personal, never ever I’m upset.

‘Also Jeremy [Doku] didn’t play and his last game was in Ipswich, [when] played unbelievable, and after that was injured.

‘But maybe for the demands, the way we now need to play because of the absences or strengths that we have and physicality and many things, we need a game of more control and not up and down.

‘Don’t tell me why. It’s not personal, I decide the decisions, that’s all, no more than that…’

Guardiola’s comments on De Bruyne would appear to add weight to fears that he will leave the club at the end of the season.

De Bruyne’s current contract is due to expire in June.