Guardiola: De Bruyne still ‘not comfortable at all’

Pep Guardiola says Kevin De Bruyne still “does not feel comfortable at all” but has been encouraged by what he has seen of Phil Foden of late.

De Bruyne has missed the last four Premier League games with a groin problem and Guardiola says the 33-year-old is still not fit, ahead of the Champions League clash with Sparta Prague.

“No, it’s not a big issue, but he doesn’t feel completely fine and Kevin is not 22-years-old anymore, he has to be fit for his football,” he said.

“He has to be completely, completely fit and he doesn’t feel comfortable at all. So he cannot express his incredible potential at his best, so that’s why he’s training a little bit better.

“He said to me, ‘Still I don’t feel good’. So if you don’t feel good, take your time.”

Guardiola says Foden is getting back to his best, however, having found himself out of the starting 11 for much of the season.

He said: “He feels much better. The minutes he played in the last game, for example.

“Phil, you realise immediately when he is happy and fit and mentally in the right moment, you realise immediately he is getting better and better.”

FEATURED IMAGE: Stu Forster/Getty Images VIA ONE FOOTBALL