By Kayode John
Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has suggested that Kevin de Bruyne could be fit for the club’s English Premier League clash against Arsenal on Sunday.
De Bruyne did not return to the pitch for the second half of City’s 0-0 draw with Inter Milan on Wednesday in their first UEFA Champions League fixture of the season at the Etihad.
The Belgium midfielder appeared to have suffered a groin injury, and there were fears he would miss Sunday’s high-profile clash.
Guardiola had promised to provide an update on De Bruyne’s condition, and he did on Friday during his pre-match press conference.
“He feels a bit better today. Tomorrow we’re training and we’ll see. He could be [involved],” he said.
City were winless against Arsenal last season, losing 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium and playing out 0-0 at the Etihad.
Guardiola reflected on how close the matches between both teams have been of recent.
“It’s always been a tight game, in the last few years. I think we are a good team but they’re good too. They do many good things, they’re a complete team, which is why they’ve been our biggest rivals in the last two seasons,” he said.
“In this early stage of the season, nothing more than the mood over the last few games [is at stake]. In terms of the table it’s not really important. It’ll be important when we go to London in the second half of the season.”
