Pep Guardiola explains why Kevin didn’t play RB Leipzig. The withdrawal of Kevin de Bruyne and Aymeric Laporte from Manchester City’s lineup to take on RB Leipzig has been explained by manager Pep Guardiola. On Wednesday, February 22, the first leg of the round of 16 UEFA Champions League matches between the two teams will take place at the Red Bull Arena. Laporte and De Bruyne are both important parts of Guardiola’s system.
The Belgian international is often regarded as the best midfielder in the world, and he also has the numbers to prove it. In 31 appearances this season across all competitions, he has four goals and 18 assists to his credit. Laporte, however, has slipped down the lineup recently but has still made 15 appearances this term in various competitions. Any manager will benefit from the Spain international’s versatility as a left-back and left-sided center-half in a back three.
On February 18, Manchester City and Nottingham Forest played to a 1-1 tie in the Premier League. Fans would have been shocked to learn that neither was in the Cityzens’ lineup to face Leipzig because neither was visibly hurt during the game.
They have a medical condition, according to Guardiola, so they might only be out for a short time. At his news conference before the game, the former Barcelona manager asserted: “Illnesses of Kevin [de Bruyne] and [Aymeric] Laporte. I’m not sure if they’ll be prepared for the weekend, but it’s part of the season and happens occasionally, regrettably. De Bruyne wasn’t feeling well immediately following the Forest game on Sunday, and Aymer wasn’t feeling well yesterday. There will be a new player. That occasionally occurs.”
This implies that they might also be unable to attend Saturday’s away game between the defending Premier League champions and AFC Bournemouth (25 February). Christopher Nkunku, a standout for RB Leipzig, has received plaudits from Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola. He has played in 24 games this season in all competitions, scoring 17 goals and dishing out five assists. The Frenchman is a blessing for any manager to have because he can play almost anywhere in midfield and attack.
Due to an injury, Didier Deschamps’ participation in the FIFA World Cup 2022 was cut short. The French team continued to the championship game but fell to Argentina on penalties. According to the aforementioned source, Guardiola stated during his pre-game press conference: “Is Nkunku a top-tier product?] Absolutely. It’s unfortunate that he was injured and missed the World Cup. Last year, we witnessed it in Manchester. I enjoy competing [against] the top individuals on the best teams.” Due to an ankle issue, Nkunku is questionable for the matchup against Manchester City.
Stay connected to your favorite players and clubs with the most recent football updates and rumors.
