Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has slammed rumours that he has fallen out with playmaker Kevin De Bruyne.
The Belgium international has had to settle for substitute appearances in Man City's last five competitive matches after returning from injury last month.
De Bruyne was not brought on until the 78th minute of Sunday's 2-0 away defeat against Premier League leaders Liverpool.
The Belgian's substitute role has led to talk about whether his lack of playing time is a result of a rift between him and his manager.
Speaking after Sunday's game, Jamie Carragher told Sky Sports: "Something is going on with De Bruyne. Something isn't right between those two."
Carragher's fellow pundit Gary Neville also described the current situation with De Bruyne as "unusual, bizarre, strange".
Guardiola hits back at De Bruyne rumours
Guardiola did not mention Carragher and Neville specifically, but he hit back at rumours of falling out in his press conference ahead of Wednesday's meeting with Nottingham Forest.
"People say I've got a problem with Kevin," Guardiola told reporters on Tuesday. "Do you think I like to not play with Kevin? That I don't want Kevin to play?
"The guy who has the most talent in the final third? I don't want it? That I have a personal problem with him after nine years together? He's delivered to me the biggest success for this club. But he's been injured for five months and two months.
"He's 33-years-old. He needs time to find his best, like last season, step by step. He'll try to do it and feel better. I'd love to have Kevin in his prime, at 26 or 27. He would love it, too. But he's not 26 or 27 anymore.
"He's had injuries in the past, important and long ones. He's a guy who needs to be physically fit for his space and energy."
Will De Bruyne start against Forest?
De Bruyne has not started a Premier League game since he played the full duration of a 2-1 home victory over Brentford on September 14.
Guardiola hinted in his press conference that he could be in contention to start against Forest, with the Man City boss admitting that De Bruyne is "closer and even better in the last few days".
De Bruyne has a previous history of enjoying success against Forest after providing two assists in a 2-0 victory when the two sides last faced off in April.
Having lost their last four Premier League matches, Man City will head into the midweek fixture in fifth position and 11 points adrift of leaders Liverpool. body check tags ::
