Guardiola Reflects on City’s Defeat and Prepares for Leeds Clash

Tuesday’s defeat to Bayer Leverkusen marked Manchester City’s first loss at home during the group stage of the Champions League since a setback against Lyon in September 2018. In this match, Coach Pep Guardiola made notable changes, retaining only Nico Gonzalez from the previous lineup against Newcastle, while benching key players including top scorer Erling Haaland, and seasoned athletes Phil Foden, Ruben Dias, and Bernardo Silva. Following the match, Guardiola acknowledged that he had perhaps made too many alterations.

“I take responsibility, but I wanted to involve everyone,” he remarked. “It’s challenging for players who haven’t featured in five, six, or seven matches, yet maybe it was too many changes. I prefer to be accommodating and include everyone, especially after an international break where matches are so frequent. We were in a favorable position in the Champions League at home, and my thought was to have options on the bench. Unfortunately, it didn’t pan out, and we must accept that.”

However, speaking on Friday ahead of the clash against Leeds United, Guardiola shifted his focus to criticizing his players’ approach during the Leverkusen game.

In a press conference, he stated, “My parents raised me to be a good person, but this is not just about being nice. We simply did not make an effort. When on the pitch, you must strive to win. Although I have a rotation theory, it is crucial for maintaining fitness. I had confidence in them, but it was an important lesson for me, even with my experience as a manager.”

Guardiola dismissed any notion that the defeat would prompt him to reconsider his strategy for squad rotation. Instead, he emphasized his concerns about the team’s mentality during the match, highlighting their overly cautious play. “I am confident that if they were surrounded by different players, they would perform better. They seemed to play not to make mistakes, rather than taking initiative. In football, you must be willing to take risks, even if it results in lost chances. The players were playing it safe and avoided taking responsibility, which complicates matters.”

Following the loss to Newcastle and Arsenal’s win over Tottenham, City now finds themselves seven points adrift of the Gunners in the title race. To prevent Arsenal from extending their lead, it is imperative that City secures a victory against Leeds. Guardiola recalled a similar period last year when City faltered in the league, effectively exiting the title race, thus underscoring the importance of treating Leeds with respect, despite their current position at the bottom of the table.

“Our focus is solely on the upcoming matches,” he asserted. “We possess enough experience to concentrate on one game at a time. I understand the gap has widened, and Arsenal is a formidable team, which becomes evident as we watch their progression. The Premier League is unpredictable; while one can enjoy a good streak, a single poor performance can alter the course significantly, particularly against well-prepared opponents. Therefore, we must be ready.”