Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola denies he has a "personal problem" with Kevin De Bruyne and insists the playmaker's absence from the team in recent weeks was down to his fitness issues.

City have not won in seven games in all competitions — their worst run under Guardiola — and De Bruyne has featured only as a substitute in the last five of those matches after recovering from a pelvic injury.

The Belgium midfielder was injured during City's Champions League match with Inter Milan on September 18 and hasn't started since.

A number of prominent pundits, including former City defender and club ambassador Micah Richards, have questioned why De Bruyne has not been starting games amid the champions' dramatic slump. Richards said on "The Rest is Football" podcast that it appeared "there's some sort of rift going on" between De Bruyne and Guardiola.

Guardiola responded in his news conference ahead of Wednesday's Premier League match against Nottingham Forest, saying: "People say I've got a problem with Kevin. Do you think I like to not play with Kevin? No, 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, but he's been five months injured (last season) and two months injured (this year). 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'm desperate to have his best."

Both De Bruyne and Guardiola have spoken since of the pain De Bruyne was in after his injury against Inter and the need to ease him back into action.

De Bruyne is in the final year of his contract.

"I'd love to have the Kevin in his prime, 26 or 27. He would love it too — but he is not 26 or 27 anymore," Guardiola added.

"He had injuries in the past, important and long ones. He is a guy who needs to be physically fit for his space and energy. You think I'm complaining? It's normal, it's nature. He's played in 10 or 11 seasons a lot of games and I know he is desperate to help us. He gives glimpses of brilliance that only he can have."