Pep Guardiola has provided an update on the injury situation involving Kevin De Bruyne following Manchester City’s 1-0 victory against Brentford. The surprise decision to have the £400,000-a-week midfielder on the bench raised eyebrows, especially in a crucial game for City’s Premier League title race.

Guardiola’s choice not to start De Bruyne and substitute Jeremy Doku instead, despite the game being tied at 0-0 before Erling Haaland’s decisive goal, fueled speculation about a potential injury. Guardiola addressed the situation after the match, shedding light on De Bruyne’s suspected hamstring issue.

“We cannot use Kevin [De Bruyne] today because he has niggles in his hamstring position, I didn’t want to take any risks with him,” Guardiola explained, emphasizing a cautious approach to the star player’s fitness. Despite categorizing the concern as not serious, Guardiola stressed the importance of avoiding unnecessary risks, stating, “He’s okay, it’s just more caution and prevention that I think, but he didn’t feel comfortable. The doctor said it is a little risk, and I said, okay. After five months off, we didn’t take any risks about that over him.”

Guardiola’s decision not to risk De Bruyne during this crucial stage of the season is seen as a wise move. As Manchester City faces challenging opponents like Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, and Aston Villa in March, preserving De Bruyne’s fitness becomes paramount. Given the midfielder’s significance to the team, ensuring his full recovery is crucial for City’s aspirations in both the Premier League and the Champions League. Fans hope for his swift return to action to minimize the impact of his potential absence in upcoming crucial fixtures.

Michael Brown commended Manuel Akanji for his exceptional performance in Manchester City’s Tuesday night victory over Brentford, which narrowed the gap at the top of the Premier League to just one point. Erling Haaland secured the sole goal of the game at the Etihad Stadium, marking his 17th Premier League goal of the season and extending his scoring streak against every Premier League opponent faced.

Appearing on City’s Matchday Live show on YouTube, former City midfielder Michael Brown expressed his satisfaction with City’s performance, highlighting their patience against a resilient Brentford side that had their entire team behind the ball for most of the game. Despite the challenging defensive setup, Haaland’s second-half goal sealed the win. Brown particularly praised Akanji, who unexpectedly started as a left-back.

Akanji, earning £180,000 per week, is more accustomed to playing in the middle or occasionally on the right, making his left-back role a surprise. As Akanji walked past him towards the tunnel, Brown acknowledged his contribution, saying, “There he is. Played in a left-back position (tonight). It’s not easy to do, stepping forward. His shot as well… he deserved it (man of the match).”

While Haaland dominated headlines with the decisive goal, Akanji’s standout performance in an unusual position did not go unnoticed. Despite his limited experience at left-back, Akanji displayed remarkable comfort in the role, showcasing excellent ball distribution and posing an attacking threat. His long-range shot in the first half and well-placed deliveries demonstrated his versatility.

With solid left-back options like Josko Gvardiol and Nathan Ake, Akanji’s seamless adaptation to the position adds depth to Pep Guardiola’s choices. The Swiss international’s versatility provides City with a reliable option on the left side of defense.

Wayne Rooney has disclosed that during Louis van Gaal’s tenure at Manchester United, the Dutch manager encouraged him to play in a manner reminiscent of Erling Haaland, even though Haaland was not yet a professional footballer at that time. Van Gaal’s strategic vision for Rooney involved greater involvement in build-up play, a concept Rooney discussed on The Overlap’s Stick To Football podcast.

Reflecting on his time at Old Trafford, Rooney expressed his desire to always be actively engaged in the game, even if it meant sacrificing more goal-scoring opportunities. Van Gaal, upon his arrival at Manchester United, emphasized a tactical shift for Rooney, wanting the center-forward to have 15 or 20 touches per game, similar to how Erling Haaland operates.

During Manchester City’s recent 1-0 victory against Brentford, Haaland had just 32 touches of the ball, as reported by Sofascore. Despite limited involvement, Haaland’s decisive touch resulted in the winning goal, highlighting the striker’s impact on the game.

In the podcast discussion, Jamie Carragher drew parallels between Van Gaal’s vision and Haaland’s playing style, to which Rooney concurred, noting that Haaland indeed operates with fewer touches, creating unpredictability for defenders. Rooney acknowledged the potential psychological impact on defenders, who may feel a false sense of security or heightened anxiety, knowing that Haaland could score at any moment.

Van Gaal’s strategic insight, urging Rooney to emulate Haaland’s playing style, aligns with the idea that a striker with minimal touches can significantly influence defenders’ mindset. The unpredictability and goal-scoring threat associated with players like Haaland create challenges for opposing defenses and open up opportunities for teammates to exploit.