Pep Guardiola was asked about Kevin De Bruyne's future and Erling Haaland's fitness ahead of Manchester City's Premier League clash at Tottenham.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Coach says Belgian can still deliverHaaland feeling better after knee injuryHe rates Tottenham despite poor seasonFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
De Bruyne's future has been thrown into doubt following his dismal performance in Sunday's defeat at home to Liverpool although there has been a suggestion that the mercurial Belgian, who is into the last year of his contract with City, could stay for at least another year at the Etihad Stadium and accept playing a peripheral role in the squad.
AdvertisementWHAT GUARDIOLA SAID
"He's an exceptional player. He was and is and hopefully he will be," Guardiola told a press conference. "Whatever happens will belong to him and the club."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Haaland missed the Liverpool game and the Champions League knockout play-off second leg at Real Madrid with a knee injury although the coach is optimistic that his striker could be back to face Tottenham. Guardiola said: "[He] feels better, the last two games didn't feel okay, we'll see tomorrow."
DID YOU KNOW?
City lost their first five matches at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium but turned the tie by winning in the FA Cup fourth-round tie last season and grabbing a crucial win in the penultimate game of the Premier League season which put them on the path to winning a fourth consecutive league title. However, City's record against Spurs has haunted them again this campaign as they were beaten 2-1 in the Carabao Cup and were then thrashed 4-0 at the Etihad Stadium in November.
