Pep Guardiola has played down talk of a rift between himself and Manchester City's midfield star Kevin De Bruyne.
The Belgian has endured another season in which he has suffered with injury, starting just four Premier League matches in 2024-25.
But since returning from an abdominal injury that kept him out for eight weeks, De Bruyne has played a combined total of just 72 minutes across five substitute appearances.
When he came off the bench at Anfield on Sunday, there were just 12 minutes remaining in the eventual 2-0 defeat by Liverpool.
After both Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville suggested that 'something isn't right' between the pair in the Sky Sports coverage of the match, Guardiola defended their relationship.
"People say I’ve got a problem with Kevin," he said. "Do you think I like to not play with Kevin? I don't want Kevin to play? The guy who has the most talent in the final third. I don’t want it? I have a personal problem with him after nine years together?
"He’s delivered to me the biggest success to this club. I'm desperate to have his best.
"But he's been five months injured and two months injured. He's 33 years old. He needs time to find his best."
De Bruyne had missed from August to January of the 2023-24 season following a recurrence of the hamstring injury that forced him off in the 2023 Champions League final against Inter Milan.
With his contract up for renewal at the end of the year, he has confirmed talks for a renewal have not yet begun as he focuses on getting fit.
"I'd love to have Kevin in his prime, at 26 or 27," said Guardiola. "He would love it too.
"But he is not 26 or 27 any more. He had injuries in the past, important and long ones, and he is a guy who needs to be physically fit for his space and energy.
"It's normal, it's nature. He played a lot of games for 10 or 11 seasons.
"I know he is desperate to help us. He gives glimpses of brilliance that only he can have."
Athletic Bilbao 1-2 Real Madrid: Mbappe penalty miss proves costly
Kylian Mbappe missed a second penalty in the space of a week as LaLiga champions Real Madrid slumped to a 2-1 defeat at Athletic Bilbao.
A week on from missing from the spot against Liverpool in the Champions League, Mbappe again fluffed his lines from 12 yards after Antonio Rudiger had been fouled.
Athletic were leading 1-0 thanks to Alex Berenguer's 53rd-minute effort, but Mbappe's tame effort was easily saved by Julen Agirrezabala.
Madrid did drag themselves level through Jude Bellingham in the 78th minute, yet Athletic were swiftly celebrating a second at the other end.
Federico Valverde gifted the ball to Gorka Guruzeta, who duly struck the winner beyond Thibaut Courtois.
The defeat sees Madrid remain four points behind Barcelona in LaLiga, though Los Blancos do have a game in hand.
Real missed the chance to close the gap on leaders Barcelona who top the standings on 37 points, four ahead of second-placed Real who have a game in hand.
Data Debrief: Mbappe makes a mess of it
Mbappe has now missed two of his five penalties for Madrid in all competitions, and this represents another dent for the France star as he looks to get his career in Spain truly up and running.
Madrid, meanwhile, have now lost five of their last 11 matches in all competitions (W6), suffering one more defeat than in their previous 73 matches (W52 D17 L4).
Bilbao, on the other hand, became the only team to have beaten Madrid and Barcelona in all competitions in 2024.
Embattled O'Neil confident he remains right for Wolves
Gary O'Neil insists he remains the right man to lead Wolves away from trouble, despite Wednesday's chastening 4-0 loss to Everton leaving them mired in the relegation zone.
Wolves could have climbed out of the bottom three with a victory at Goodison Park, but they instead fell to a calamitous defeat to increase the pressure on their under-fire boss.
Craig Dawson scored two own goals after Ashley Young and Orel Mangala had given Everton – who had not scored in their previous four Premier League matches – a 2-0 half-time lead.
Wolves have now conceded 36 goals in 14 Premier League matches this season, their most at this stage of a top-flight campaign since 1964-65 (40), when they were relegated.
Their nine defeats this term are also their most at this stage of a top-flight season since 2010-11, and it remains to be seen whether O'Neil will still be in the dugout when they visit West Ham on Monday.
Wolves' travelling fans reacted furiously at the full-time whistle as O'Neil was targeted with chants of, 'you're getting sacked in the morning', but he remains confident in his ability to turn things around.
"I will back myself in any role given to get the most out of the group that we have. In any role," O'Neil said.
"I understand the drive for change from the supporters. You never know how many of them it is or what percentage it is.
"The negative noise is always the loudest.
"Whatever the fans think of me, there's definitely no one working harder than me. I will continue to do so until someone tells me not to.
"I accept full responsibility. I'll work with everything I have and I back myself to get the most of the group."
After facing West Ham – and another under-pressure manager in Julen Lopetegui – Wolves take on Ipswich Town and Leicester City in two more huge relegation six-pointers before Christmas.
Logrones 0-0 Girona (4-3 pens): Visitors suffer shock Copa del Rey exit
Girona were stunned in the second round of the Copa del Rey, as they lost 4-3 on penalties to fourth-tier Logrones.
The two sides played out a 0-0 draw over 120 minutes before Cristhian Stuani missed Girona's final spot-kick, setting up Yasin Iribarren to net a memorable winner for the 10-man hosts.
Girona dominated the opening stages, with Stuani striking the woodwork in the 24th minute, but they could not find a breakthrough.
Neither side managed a single shot on target in normal time, despite Logrones growing in confidence throughout the tie. Jon Madrazo also rattled the frame of the goal in the fourth minute of extra time before Juan Aguero and Gabriel Misehouy tested the goalkeepers at either end.
Sergio Rodriguez picked up two yellow cards in just over three minutes, with his second coming after the half-time whistle for dissent, but the hosts held out for a shoot-out.
After both scoring their opening spot-kicks, Abel Ruiz and Madrazo then saw their penalties saved, but it was Stuani's effort that proved decisive as he struck the woodwork for the second time in the game to seal Girona's fate.
Data Debrief: Girona's wasted chances go begging
Things started well for Girona despite not testing Enrique Royo in the Logrones net, but they struggled to break down a side three divisions below them.
Their first shot on target did not come until the 111th minute, and they only managed one more while facing 10 men, with Juanpe unable to beat the goalkeeper.
The hosts put up a good fight though, and will see their name go into the hat for the third round after an impressive performance against last season's surprise package in LaLiga.
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