The manager of Manchester City, Pep Guardiola has confirmed that his club’s talisman, Kevin De Bruyne is available for selection ahead of Watford vs City clash later today, December 4, at 18:30.
The 30-year-old Belgian attacking midfielder who has been battling with coronavirus infection returned to training recently which means that he would travel with City to Vicarage Road for the league game.
Recall that ahead of the Manchester City league game last weekend, the club had a long list of players battling different degrees of injuries, illness, and suspension.
Among them were: De Bruyne, Jack Grealish, Phil Foden, Aymeric Laporte, Ilkay Gundogan, John Stones, and Kyle Walker.
Ahead of the Manchester City mid-week Premier League match against Aston Villa, Pep Guardiola lamented that there was an emergency at the club due to the number of players that were not available for the match.
Despite their absence, Manchester City went on to beat Aston Villa 2-1 away from home which kept City second on the league table with 32 points in 14 games, a point behind first-placed Chelsea.
Ahead of the Premier League game against Watford, Pep Guardiola confirmed that the players are available which is a big boost for the title contenders.
Guardiola said: “Except Ferran, all of them are ready to travel to London.
“It is much better. I said before the game against Aston Villa we need everyone and it is much better to have everyone.”
Pep Guardiola hails Claudio Ranieri
Pep Guardiola of Manchester City will face coach Claudio Ranieri who has been trying to rejuvenate Watford since he joined the club earlier in the season.
Ranieri is known for coaching Chelsea and leading Leicester City to win a Premier League title. He has been able to keep Watford a little bit save on the league table since he took charge of the club.
Ahead of his meeting with Manchester City, coach Pep Guardiola described the career of the veteran coach as ‘amazing’.
Guardiola said: “Football has to be grateful we still have important people like Claudio Ranieri. What he’s done in his career is amazing.
“Of course Leicester is the benchmark but with what he has done in Spain, Italy, France, everywhere, I admire this type of person.
“After they lost to Liverpool he was confident to say, ‘If they follow me we will win’. I admire a lot that passion and energy. It will be a pleasure to see him again.
“I know results against him are not always good. I know exactly what they want to do but what they do they do it really well.
“We have to be careful and make another good performance.”
Watford need to beat Manchester City to keep their hope of surviving relegation alive. While Manchester City would want to win to remain in contention for the league title.
🗣 “It’s nice, but we will see.”#MCFC manager Pep Guardiola dismisses talk of the Premier League title race but says his side are are very happy with the start they have made 🙌 pic.twitter.com/ogAis8P8zL
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) December 3, 2021
