GETTY
Pep Guardiola has called on refs to protect his players more
The Manchester City pair fell victim of X-rated tackles from Dele Alli and Harry Kane respectively last weekend that should have earned the Tottenham and England pair red cards.
As Guardiola digested the news that young starlet Phil Foden will be out for at least a month with ankle ligament damage suffered in the midweek Carabao Cup win at Leicester, Guardiola is just relieved De Bruyne and Sterling were not seriously injured in the challenges that referee Craig Pawson deemed were worthy only of cautions.
The City boss doesn’t believe his players were deliberately targeted, but insists there is too much spotlight on diving and not enough on the lack of appropriate punishments for potentially dangerous tackles.
“I don’t believe the players go to injure another one,” he said. “The football here is fast and aggressive and sometimes you get injuries, but the refs have to follow the rules.
“Alli and Kane are top players and I am not suspicious about them and thinking they are dangerous. But we were lucky with Raheem and De Bruyne, really lucky.
We were lucky with Raheem and De Bruyne
“Everybody is squealing about diving. If they want to punish those who are dive then okay, but the main thing the ref has to do is protect the players.
“We were also lucky against Tottenham because [Nicolas] Otamendi put his leg high against Kane and you have to protect Kane. It’s the same what happened with [Sadio] Mane and Ederson when we played Liverpool earlier in the season.
“The physicality in England is stronger and you have to deal with that. If you are not strong enough to match the physicality of the opponents you cannot play, but the referees are there to control that. When it is a foul, it is a foul.”
While De Bruyne and Sterling escaped serious injuries, Foden didn’t enjoy the same good fortune after making his full debut at Leicester, although Guardiola feared it could be worse.
“Unfortunately Phil will be injured for some time,” he added. “We were scared, we thought it was the bone, but it’s just the ligaments. It will be one month or maybe more.”
GETTY
Kevin de Bruyne was lucky not to get injured by Dele Alli’s reckless challenge
Guardiola has put the brake on suggestions City are already champions as they reach the halfway mark on the back of 17 wins and a draw out of their first 18 games.
They will be bidding to stretch that record-breaking sequence against Bournemouth at the Etihad today with Guardiola refusing to allow complacency to creep in.
He said: “United and Chelsea are making [enough] points to be champions. When I say it is not over, it is not over because one draw or loss could change things and we still aren’t halfway through.
“I expect to lose games and drop more points. We are going to fight to continue to be unbeaten but it is going to happen – we will be beaten.”
Eddie Howe is hoping that will be today, and the Bournemouth boss is backing forgotten man Benik Afobe to make it happen.
GETTY
Raheem Sterling deserves more protection, says Pep Guardiola
Howe is set to call upon Afobe to replace the injured Jermain Defoe, who faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines with an ankle problem.
Former Wolves striker Afobe has made four Premier League starts this season but Howe said: “I am confident he will be ready if called upon.
“Benik is a very good character. He has got a really good mindset and is very confident.
“He had this period out of the team at the start of last season, had to be patient and played a huge part in us staying up and formed a very good partnership with Joshua King.
“We know what he is capable of and back him to show that given the opportunity.”
Defoe hobbled off during Bournemouth’s midweek EFL Cup defeat at Chelsea and Howe said: “We are sending Jermain to a specialist. We are concerned it could be a more serious injury than just an ankle twist. It would be a blow to lose Jermain for any period of time.
“We have suddenly been hit at the worst time. We have a huge number of games and a lot of bodies in the treatment room.”
City are looking to extend their record-breaking run of Premier League wins to 17 matches but Howe has warned his side they cannot afford to show any fear.
Howe added: “City are on their way to being a great team but we have to believe we can win.
“The underdog thing suits us. We can go in and try and be ourselves without that burden of having to get a result.
“We need to believe we are on the same level as Manchester City. Going in with an inferiority complex is not good.”