MANCHESTER, SEPT 19 — Manchester City fear Kevin de Bruyne is injured ahead of their Premier League clash with Arsenal, after the player was substituted at half-time against Inter Milan in the Champions League yesterday.
The Belgium international looked uncomfortable after making a run late in the first half. After receiving treatment, De Bruyne did not return for the second half and was replaced by Ilkay Gundogan. The match ended 0-0.
City manager Pep Guardiola said he did not know the extent of De Bruyne’s injury, but was informed that the player could not continue in the second half.
“I haven’t spoken to the doctor yet,” Guardiola said of De Bruyne’s availability at the weekend. “(He will be) Evaluated tonight, maybe tomorrow. We will have more information tomorrow.”
City challenged Arsenal in the last two seasons to win the title. The north London club are also expected to be City’s main rivals again this season.
Without De Bruyne, City failed to find success against Inter and were eliminated at home in the Champions League for the first time since a 0-0 draw with Sporting Lisbon in March 2022.
It was the second time in all competitions since then that Guardiola’s side failed to score at home.
City extended their unbeaten run at home in European matches to 32 times, dating back to a 2-1 loss to Lyon in 2018.
Erling Haaland initially looked strong with nine goals in his first four games but Inter managed to stop the Norwegian striker with 99 goals for City.
Haaland also failed to score against the Italian side in the 2023 Champions League final, which City won 1-0 to lift the trophy for the first time in its history.
“They are reliable in defense,” Guardiola said of Inter. – AP
