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Antonio Conte has issued an apology to Kevin De Bruyne after he was forced to substitute the Belgian midfielder just 26 minutes into their Champions League defeat to Manchester City on Thursday.
De Bruyne was making a highly anticipated return to the Etihad Stadium, a ground he called home for a decade, winning multiple trophies.
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However, his reunion with his former club was cut short after Napoli’s Giovanni Di Lorenzo was sent off in the 21st minute for a foul on Erling Haaland.
In a tactical move to shore up his side's defence, Conte made the difficult decision to withdraw the Belgian and introduce a defender, Mathias Olivera.
Conte apologises to De Bruyne
Speaking at his post-match press conference, Conte admitted he felt regret for having to make the change. "It was the only thing I could do," he said.
🇮🇹🎙️Antonio Conte taking De Bruyne off:
— Napoli Zone (@TheNapoliZone) September 18, 2025
"Sometimes fate plays tricks on you. Last year we didn’t get a single red card, and now, on Kevin’s return to Manchester, it happens after 20 minutes. It was the only choice I could make. I regret having to do without his contribution, and… pic.twitter.com/SpptfUsRGN
"I felt sorry for the boy, who we robbed of the satisfaction of playing against his old club.
"But I also robbed myself of the chance to count on him," Conte added.
The substitution proved decisive, as Pep Guardiola's side went on to record a comfortable 2-0 victory, with goals from Erling Haaland and Jeremy Doku.
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