Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola explained leaving Kevin de Bruyne on the bench for their FA Cup semifinal defeat to Liverpool.

The Belgian midfielder limped off in the bruising midweek Champions League draw with Atletico Madrid and required stiches in his foot, but was still named amongst the substitutes at Wembley.

Guardiola says De Bruyne, who spent time warming up in the second half, felt fit enough to play against Jurgen Klopp's men, but the boss decided against introducing him off the bench to avoid aggravating the playmaker's injury further.

“He still had four stitches in his right foot when he hit the ball," Guardiola explained at his post-match press conference.

“He could walk and run, but the ball was disturbing him and at the end if he plays and opens up two or three stitches maybe we lose him more.

“Of course, Kevin was happy in the condition and could play maybe from the beginning because he feels fit, maybe to play in the second half, but I didn't want to take the risk to lose him, in case it opened up the injury again or got an infection.

“That's why I took that decision. When you play a lot of games and tough ones, these situations can happen."