“The club has to move forward” – Pep Guardiola honestly discusses Manchester City’s task of replacing Kevin De Bruyne | OneFootball

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has spoken at length about the difficulty of replacing Kevin De Bruyne in his squad during the upcoming summer transfer window.

The Belgium international announced at the end of last week that the ongoing campaign would be his final season as a Manchester City player, having spent the last 10 years at the Etihad Stadium.

Kevin De Bruyne has no doubt been one of Manchester City’s greatest-ever players and the club are expected to recognise his remarkable achievements in sky blue and white by commissioning a statue of the 33-year-old.

Having won everything available to him across the course of the last decade, De Bruyne will stand alongside all-time greats in Vincent Kompany, David Silva, and Sergio Aguero in having a statue outside of the club’s stadium for the future.

There does however remain the sizeable task for Manchester City decision makers to replace De Bruyne in Pep Guardiola’s squad, whether that be through an internal promotion or via the transfer market and significant investment in one of the game’s vest best midfield operators.

Speaking on the subject of how City will look to replace De Bruyne following his exit from the club this summer, Pep Guardiola pointed towards the irreplaceable profile of Sergio Aguero as a primary example of the difficulty in doing so.

“The club has to move forward, move on and of course, replicating these numbers and things, it’s so difficult,” Guardiola said. “But other qualities, other things, we have to find and we’ll see how the squad finishes the season, and he’s the only player that finishes contract.

“The rest are still under contract, and the club or myself still don’t decide yet exactly what we have to do. But of course, it’s difficult. People say, ‘Erling (Haaland) replaced Sergio (Aguero)’. Sergio was irreplaceable for many things; it’s not abou goals… Football is nice when it’s emotions, when you give something for the fans, of course Man City, but other ones.

“And Sergio gave something unique, like Erling will be unique. Sergio scored the most important moment of the club’s history. The goal, everybody knows, against Queen Park Rangers. I’m sorry, there are things that cannot be substituted.”

The Manchester City manager continued at length, “Saying bye to these players, it’s so difficult! I would love (them) to be eternal; Sergio, now Kevin, because there are a lot of connections… Especially bad moments. How they come back again, again, again, and this connection and relation for many years, not just for managers, mates, staff, but for the fans, journalists. It’s not easy!

“But it happened from a long time ago in every country; there are players that are unique, that represent the club. Kevin is one. And (Manchester) United, Arsenal, Liverpool has its own players. Now it’s a little shock for the public, but people remember, ‘How blessed, happy’ or… I don’t know the adjective you use to see these players of many, many years and give us absolutely everything.

“The club gave everything to him, he expressed this perfectly, but he gave everything to us. At the end it will be so nice, remembering personally my period here always Kevin will be there in my memory, it cannot be forgotten. Even in bad moments we had, in good moments. People say, ‘I remember it was a fairytale!’ Of course not, but not even with players that are not here anymore. I had to take a decision, the club has to, and all decisions are not easy for everyone.

“But in the balance, they’ve been extraordinary. We’ve been there, expecting the ball from Kevin, something is going to happen, it happened. After goal, I turn around, look to my box and see my family and celebrate Kevin made something. How many times this happened?! That’s why I’m incredibly grateful, and sad because it’s difficult to think it will be over.”

Kevin De Bruyne and Manchester City still have plenty to work towards between now and the end of the season, with UEFA Champions League qualification via a top-five finish being a priority, alongside the possibility of FA Cup success with a semi-final clash on the horizon.