De Bruyne: I understand Sterling's Man City frustrations
Martin Macdonald
- 18 Oct 2021 19:33 BST
- 4 min read
Manchester United star Kevin De Bruyne says he understands the frustrations of team-mate Raheem Sterling over a lack of playing time.
Last week, Sterling put a host of clubs around Europe on alert when he suggested he would be open to moving away from the Premier League champions in January or next summer if it meant starting more matches.
The England international was named in the starting XI for Man City's last match on Saturday as they defeated Burnley in the Premier League.
However, that was only Sterling's fifth start of the campaign in all competitions.
Previously a key player under Pep Guardiola, Sterling has fallen down the pecking order over the last 12 months due to the emergence of Phil Foden and the acquisition of compatriot Jack Grealish.
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De Bruyne is one player who is a certain starter for the club when fit, but the Belgian has sympathy for Sterling, even if he hopes his team-mate remains at the Etihad.
“Rotation is important. Playing four competitions and mostly going far is a tough ask," De Bruyne told reporters when asked about Sterling's complaints.
“I understand the frustration, I'm a player and you have some players who need more rhythm and maybe Raz needs more, I need that also.
“It's tough to play one game but it's the manager who has to make choices and it's hard. We have a group of 22, 23 internationals who are unbelievable. Whoever you pick will be right.
"Whenever the team plays good you can't say much as a player. We try to help each other.”
Guardiola responds to Sterling's comments
Guardiola has previously taken umbrage to Sterling's complaints, as he has mentioned the likes of Riyad Mahrez and Joao Cancelo as two players who never comment on their game time or lack of it to him.
“I didn't know it. I didn't think the club knew," he said when asked about Sterling in a press conference on Friday.
“Raheem is our player, hopefully he will be an incredibly important player for us. I don't know if he wants to play more. Riyad [Mahrez] doesn't play and he doesn't complain, Joao [Cancelo] too."
Guardiola then said that any player, not specifically Sterling, are free to leave if they do not accept his decisions as manager.
"They have to speak on the grass, all of them, not just Raheem," he continued.
"They have to satisfied to be here. If not, they're free to take the decision that's best for themselves, for their families, for all of those who love them. Give them more time, I understand completely.
"I was a football player and all the time I wanted to play. Not just Raheem, all of them want to play 90 minutes in every game but I can't assure them of that. They have to improve on the pitch and every training session.
"Not just for Raheem, for all the players. I said many times. You have to be there and fight and be good every day. After in the transfer windows you decide, when it's finished, you have to accept my decisions, I'm the manager, I decide what's best for the team.
"I don't make decisions for the player. I'm thinking the best for the team to win games, to make happy the fans, the organisation. Be proud of what you do. It's the only situation."
Sterling has been linked with both Barcelona and Real Madrid recently, while Paris Saint-Germain are also said to be an interested party.
