Pep Guardiola making no promises on last start for Kevin De Bruyne at Etihad

Pep Guardiola has offered no guarantee that Kevin De Bruyne will start his final home game for Manchester City. De Bruyne, who is leaving when his contract expires this summer, is set to play at the Etihad Stadium for one last time in a City shirt against Bournemouth on Tuesday.

Yet with City still to secure Champions League qualification, Guardiola will not be guided by sentiment in his selection, even though De Bruyne will receive a send-off from the club after the game. The manager said: “What Kevin wants is that we win the game to qualify for the Champions League next season. That is what Kevin wants. It cannot be otherwise. I’m going to decide the best so that we can have the best chance to win the game against Bournemouth.”

De Bruyne is to be given a guard of honour by team-mates at full-time before he gives a speech on the pitch. He will then be presented with gifts by the wife and son of late City legend Colin Bell.

Victory in what is a game in hand would lift City to third heading into their final league game at Fulham on Sunday. Defeat would leave them sixth and mean one point would separate the teams from third to seventh in the battle for top-five places. City have played in the Champions League every season since they qualified for the 2011-12 campaign.

“Of course it’s important,” Guardiola said. “We have been in for the last 14 or 15 years and it is where we want to be, but if we are not there it is because we don’t deserve it, and we will play the Europa League. But I’m thinking we’re going to qualify. I control my mind and I think that. The first step is to finish in third position in the Premier League and that is the main target.”

Guardiola needs to lift his side from the disappointment of their defeat by Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final. He said he had not watched Saturday’s game back. “Maybe tonight I will review certain images,” he said, “but last night and this morning I was focused on Bournemouth.”

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Guardiola insists he has not designated a penalty taker despite Omar Marmoush missing from the spot at Wembley after Erling Haaland surprisingly passed up the opportunity. He said: “I didn’t talk with them. We train this afternoon. It’s so clear: the taker has to score a goal.”

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