Pep Guardiola stated that Kevin De Bruyne expressed contentment following the game, as he elucidated the rationale for the substitutions that he believes rescued Manchester City from losing against Liverpool.
City first gained an advantage at Anfield, but then conceded a penalty that was easily avoidable in the second half. They faced significant pressure, prompting Guardiola to make a tactical move by substituting Kevin De Bruyne and Julian Alvarez with Jeremy Doku and Mateo Kovacic. De Bruyne, specifically, was quite angry when he was substituted and engaged in a verbal altercation with Guardiola and his coaches on the sideline. Subsequently, the manager approached him again for more conversation.
However, the Blues showed improvement as a result of the adjustments, with Kovacic providing City with greater control in the middle and Doku serving as a more effective option on the left side. Regardless of Guardiola’s admiration for De Bruyne’s mentality, he will not hesitate to substitute him if he believes it is the optimal choice for the squad.
