Pep Guardiola refuses to guarantee Kevin De Bruyne starting spot in final home game for Man City as head coach prioritises 'main target' over Belgian's farewell

After a heartbreaking FA Cup final loss to Crystal Palace last weekend, City are now gearing up to face Bournemouth in a crucial Premier League clash on Tuesday in their final home game of the 2024-25 campaign. It will also be De Bruyne's final appearance at the Etihad Stadium as he is all set to leave the club after 10 years this summer.

While the match against the Cherries will be an emotional affair for the Belgian midfielder, Guardiola is refusing to be guided by sentiment and won't guarantee his spot in the starting XI. The Cityzens, who are currently sixth in the table, will aim to secure a win at home and head into the final matchday in third and with Champions League qualification firmly in their hands.

Speaking to reporters, the Spanish coach 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."

City are scheduled to take on Fulham on May 25 in their final Premier League game of the season. The match at Craven Cottage is likely to be De Bruyne's farewell game as he hinted earlier that he is unlikely to travel to the U.S. to play in the Club World Cup.