MANCHESTER — Speaking at the City Football Academy on Tuesday, Pep Guardiola provided an encouraging update regarding Kevin De Bruyne’s groin rehabilitation, revealing the Belgian talisman has resumed individual ball work on grass.
While Wednesday’s Champions League visit of Sparta Prague comes too soon for De Bruyne, Guardiola confirmed the 33-year-old playmaker could return to full team training before the end of the week.
"Kevin is feeling much better," Guardiola confirmed. "He is not ready for tomorrow, but day by day he is taking steps forward without pain. We need him at 100% because the winter calendar is unforgiving."
City sit on four points from their opening two European games after drawing 0–0 with Inter Milan and easing past Slovan Bratislava 4–0 in Slovakia. A home victory against Sparta Prague would extend City’s record-breaking unbeaten run in European competition to 26 consecutive matches (excluding penalty shootouts).
Erling Haaland, who has scored 10 Premier League goals in eight appearances, is set to lead the line alongside Phil Foden and Brazilian winger Savinho.
"Sparta Prague play with very aggressive defensive structure and five at the back," Guardiola analyzed. "They held Stuttgart in Germany and beat Salzburg 3–0. We must be patient in our build-up and avoid giving away cheap transitions."