Pep Guardiola looks to Man City comeback kid to make up for Kevin De Bruyne blow

Kevin De Bruyne limped off, as Bernardo Silva stepped as much as be the match-winner.

The important 2-0 win over Aston Villa in midweek was a mirrored image of the 2018-19 Premier League title marketing campaign, when the good Belgian was lacking for a lot of the marketing campaign – however Bernardo blossomed right into a key participant for the Blues.

The information that De Bruyne is out for as much as six weeks with a hamstring harm sustained in that recreation is a extreme blow for Metropolis, who’re tucked in behind leaders Manchester United, with a recreation in hand.

However the truth that they fended off a robust Liverpool problem two seasons in the past, regardless of being with out De Bruyne for the primary half of the season – and the run-in – is an expertise upon which they’ll name.

Bernardo’s glorious aim in opposition to Villa may be the second when he re-discovered the shape he confirmed in that thrilling marketing campaign – he thrived as the principle playmaker, in De Bruyne’s absence.

Final season, after falling foul of the FA, he had an unusual season, and has flickered into kind in spells this time period.

Pep Guardiola says that he feels Bernardo is on the comeback, and blamed himself for not enjoying him sufficient final season, when Riyad Mahrez’s kind restricted his appearances.

“He’s again, he struggled final season, perhaps due to lack of minutes I gave him,” he mentioned. “He can’t play each single recreation, we’ve gamers from the academy. We want everybody. There are extra areas for different gamers.”

De Bruyne’s harm is a lift for leaders United, who can see a possibility to cancel out Metropolis’s recreation in hand because the Blues plough on with out de Bruyne and primary striker Sergio Aguero.

However Guardiola dismissed the notion that accidents to prime gamers must be the principle consider deciding the vacation spot of the title.

“There are various the reason why one staff turns into champions, and wholesome gamers is necessary,” he mentioned.

“But it surely’s not possible. To demand they’re match for 11 months, enjoying each three days, is not possible. “Accidents in any respect the golf equipment – we knew it, we’ve tried to keep away from it, higher medical to handle the gamers, however they’re human beings.

“This quantity of competitions, the physique says it’s sufficient. We can’t ask for one thing that’s not attainable to be solved, it’s not possible.”