Pep Guardiola opens up on Kevin De Bruyne row in Man City game

Pep Guardiola 'loved' Kevin De Bruyne shouting back at him during a heated moment in the Champions League semi-final with Real Madrid.

The Manchester City manager was fuming early in the second half as his midfield started to give a few early balls away, and after De Bruyne was culpable he was given shouts from the touchline that let him know in no uncertain terms what he had done. However, the Belgian gave as good as he got as he shouted back at Guardiola before turning away and carrying on with the game.

De Bruyne stayed on the pitch and sent in the free-kick that Manu Akanji turned home for the third goal on the night that made City's victory secure. Rather than be offended by the gesture, Guardiola explained how De Bruyne's outburst convinced him that the player was in top form.

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"I love the action with Kevin," the City boss said. "We shouted at each other and I love this from Kevin. Sometimes in some games it is a little flat and I like this energy.

"It's not the first time he has shouted at me, how many times he shouts at me at the training ground. This is what we need from him.

"After that, he became the best. In the first actions, [Ilkay] Gundogan lost the ball and Kevin lost a few and we didn't need this kind of game.

"In the first half we didn't make any of these actions and we spoke at half-time about that. I said to Kevin stay calm and then he made an incredible assist. It's football, it's nothing personal."

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