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Man City's Kevin De Bruyne could return for final Premier League games

Man City's Kevin De Bruyne could return for final Premier League games
© Reuters
The playmaker has returned to training.

Kevin De Bruyne could return for Manchester City's final two Premier League games of the season with less than two weeks to go to the Champions League final.

De Bruyne has missed City's last two games with a muscle injury, giving City a scare ahead of the meeting with Chelsea in Porto on May 29.

But Guardiola said the 29-year-old has returned to training ahead of Tuesday's trip to Brighton.

"Kevin has trained in the last two days and is feeling good," the City manager said.

"Everyone knows Kevin is important but we will see his level over the next few days and when he is ready to play."

De Bruyne's return to training means that Sergio Aguero is the only known absentee for Tuesday's match.

With the Premier League title wrapped up, City's attentions are already drifting towards Portugal but Guardiola wants no let-up in results, insisting the best way to prepare for the final is to put in strong performances against Brighton and then Everton at the Etihad on Sunday.

"The mood is really good," he said. "They've been training really well. Everyone is focused.

Chelsea v Manchester City – FA Cup – Semi Final – Wembley Stadium
Kevin De Bruyne has missed City's last two games with a muscle injury (Ben Stansall/PA)

"We've never been here before in the Champions League final. You don't have to say anything. People know they have to maintain their rhythm to play the final in the best condition as possible.

"The best way to prepare is to play well, to play good, it's the only way we know."

While City could afford to take their foot off the pedal in the remaining league games, Chelsea remain locked in a tight battle for Champions League places, and go into a rematch against FA Cup winners Leicester on Tuesday night before travelling to Aston Villa at the weekend.

Asked if the need for results gave Thomas Tuchel's side better preparation for the final, Guardiola said he was not interested in what Chelsea were doing.

"We have six days to prepare for the final after the Everton game, then we will go into details, but now we prepare for Brighton," he said.

"For sure we are not preparing for the Champions League final if we don't prepare for Brighton and Everton.

"We did not speak for one second about Chelsea. Tomorrow we play a game to win and that's the best way to arrive to the final."

Guardiola's team-sheet on Friday night could have created the impression of a team happy to ease off – with third-choice goalkeeper Scott Carson making his City debut at the age of 35 while there was a rare appearance for Eric Garcia in a side sporting five changes.

Guardiola admitted the squad approached that game "more relaxed" after Manchester United's home loss to Leicester last Tuesday night ended the title race, but insisted their focus had now returned.

"We spoke, had a day off," he said of their title celebrations. "I told them to forget the football and enjoy your time with your family as a champion.

"We spoke in training that we have a routine, be focused. They're training really good.

"In the game against Newcastle the people were more relaxed but I saw them today so focused. We'll play the next one and prepare for the final. I have no doubts the people are incredibly committed to win the three games we still have."

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2Manchester CityMan City33237380324876
3Liverpool34228475344174
4Aston Villa34206871502166
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs32186865491660
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd33165125150153
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle331551369541550
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham34139125463-948
9Chelsea32138116157447
10Bournemouth34129134960-1145
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton331111115254-244
12Wolverhampton WanderersWolves34127154654-843
13Fulham34126165054-442
14Crystal Palace34109154456-1239
15Brentford3498175259-735
16Everton34118153648-1233
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3479184260-1826
18Luton TownLuton3467214775-2825
19Burnley3458213769-3223
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd3437243392-5916


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