Pep Guardiola has admitted that his decision to leave Kevin de Bruyne at the bank during the 3-1 defeat of Manchester City at Real Madrid on Wednesday night was not a consequence of an injury.
De Bruyne was an unused submarine at Bernabéu, where a Hat-Tork of Kylian Mbappe fired Madrid to a 6-3 victory in added and left the city of the Champions League.
The Belgian midfielder had played 84 minutes in the first leg, but Guardiola felt that he had better options for the return game.
Explaining why Bruyne did not appear on Wednesday, the head of the city said: 'Decisions. My decision.
'Yes, of course (you can still play in large games), played against Madrid at home, of course you can play …'
Guardiola added: 'The relationship with Kevin de Bruyne is exceptional. I can't be grateful enough for what he has done for me, the team, all. It is just a decision.
'I usually don't talk to players, not only Kevin, why they don't play. They do not ask me why when I decide to let them play from the beginning or during.
'It's just a decision of what I have seen, for many reasons, some. It's never personal, I'm never upset.
'Also Jeremy (Doku) did not play and his last game was in Ipswich, (when) he played incredible, and after that he was injured.
'But perhaps for demands, the way we now need to play due to the absences or strengths we have and physical and many things, we need a more control game and not above and down.
Don't tell me why. It is not personal, I decide the decisions, that's all, no more than that … '
Guardiola's comments about De Bruyne seem to add weight to the fears that the club will leave at the end of the season.
De Bruyne's current contract will expire in June.