Kevin De Bruyne out of Super Cup squad with hamstring injury

• Manchester City is set to play Sevilla in the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday, August 16
• The match is played between Champions League winners and Europa League winners
• City will be without Kevin De Bruyne as the midfielder is out with an injury

Manchester City will see a notable absence in their UEFA Super Cup confrontation with Sevilla as midfielder Kevin De Bruyne was sidelined due to a hamstring injury. De Bruyne’s unfortunate setback emerged after he was forced to exit Friday’s Premier League victory against Burnley with a recurrence of the same hamstring issue that prompted his early departure from last season’s Champions League final. In a subsequent disclosure, City’s manager, Pep Guardiola, disclosed that the Belgian international, aged 32, would be rendered unavailable for “several weeks.”

Despite the absence of precise details regarding the extent of the injury, the 22-player roster for the Athens match on Wednesday was published on City’s official website, conspicuously omitting De Bruyne’s name. Since his arrival at City from Wolfsburg for a sum of £55 million in August 2015, De Bruyne has consistently played a crucial role, solidifying his status as one of the premier midfield talents globally.

Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne was injured 22 minutes into City’s Premier League opener against Burnley on Friday, August 11, 2023. | PHOTO: Sky |

READ: How Arsenal thumbed Manchester City in the Community Shield

Among the missing figures for the Super Cup clash, in addition to De Bruyne, were midfielder Bernardo Silva, the sole member of the Burnley matchday squad not included, and central defender Ruben Dias, who was unable to participate in the initial league encounter due to concussion protocols. In contrast, Kalvin Phillips and Jack Grealish, though unused substitutes at Turf Moor, secured spots in the lineup, alongside the versatile John Stones, who was absent from the field during Friday’s game due to an injury.

Kevin De Bruyne’s absence from the UEFA Super Cup spectacle has raised questions regarding City’s midfield dynamics and creativity. As a prominent figure within the team, his capacity to orchestrate play and contribute to goal-scoring opportunities is a significant asset that the team will miss during his absence. Nevertheless, City’s depth in the squad, demonstrated by the inclusion of players like Grealish, Phillips, and Stones, presents an opportunity for others to step up and fill the void left by De Bruyne’s injury.

This turn of events adds an extra layer of challenge for Manchester City, as they navigate their early-season fixtures and juggle the demands of both domestic and European competitions. The forthcoming weeks will provide insights into how well City can adapt to the absence of their midfield maestro and whether the collective strength of the squad can mitigate the impact of this setback.