Pep Guardiola has been accused of making a ‘psychological blunder’ by taking off Kevin de Bruyne in Manchester City’s win over Bayern Munich in the Champions League this week.
Journalist Jan Mulder was less than impressed by the decision from the Manchester City boss this week, sharing his opinion in conversation with Het Laatste Nieuws.
De Bruyne started the game against Bayern earlier this week as part of Manchester City’s four-man midfield alongside Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva and Jack Grealish.
He was in imperious form once again too, putting in another commanding performance as Manchester City ran out 3-0 winners in one of the most impressive results of Guardiola’s reign to date.
He did not finish the game, though, with the Spanish coach electing to bring the Belgian off in the 68th minute for striker Julian Alvarez.
At the time the decision appeared to be a strange one given City’s dominance, something De Bruyne had again been central to, as he usually is.
Mulder was one of those who was less than impressed, criticising Guardiola for the choice despite it not having any negative consequences.
“This is so typical Guardiola,” he said.
“I see him as a kind of patient on the sidelines. Who sews himself up. Be a calm one anyway. It’s a football match. The footballer, and certainly De Bruyne, is much more important than yourself.
“Yes, Alvarez started pressing better. But surely De Bruyne did nothing? He’s been carrying that team for years. It’s just Guardiola’s responsibility to bring Kevin into his squad.
“Now he is relegating De Bruyne. What he did was psychologically a blunder of major proportions. But that apparently doesn’t interest that simple coach. That really makes me angry. Such a misunderstanding in the head of a coach.”
