Guardiola Reflects on Recent Loss and Prepares for Champions League Milestone

Pep Guardiola held a press conference on Monday, taking the opportunity to express his apologies for his conduct following Manchester City’s recent defeat to Newcastle. The City manager, visibly frustrated by the loss, acknowledged that he was not proud of his actions during the intense moments at the end of the match.

In addressing reporters ahead of the Champions League match against Bayer Leverkusen, Guardiola stated, “I apologize. I feel embarrassed and ashamed when I see it. I don’t like it. I apologized immediately to the cameraman. I am who I am. After 1,000 games, I’m not a perfect person; I make significant mistakes. It’s not about that. What is certain is that I will defend my team and my club without hesitation.”

Guardiola also recounted his interaction with Bruno Guimaraes, reflecting on their long-standing relationship. “We have known Bruno for many years, and after every game, including at the Etihad, we always communicate, whether in the tunnel or elsewhere. I don’t know what occurred, but I have a great relationship with him, and I value that. Being an emotional person, I tend to express myself with gestures and conversation.”

Now, with the focus shifting to Europe, Guardiola is preparing for his 100th Champions League match at the helm of Manchester City. He remarked, “I realize I’m getting old; every game is a milestone. It’s significant; it shows we’ve consistently been competitive each season. This competition is special for the players, as it presents an incredible challenge against the best teams in Europe. For the club, its reputation, prestige, and financial considerations make it immensely important.”

Despite the recent setback against Newcastle, Guardiola stressed that the team must quickly move forward to secure their place in the next phase of the Champions League. With three wins and a draw from their initial four games, he emphasized the critical nature of the upcoming showdown with Leverkusen.

“That loss is immediately forgotten. We reflect briefly on what happened that night, but the group stage is paramount. We’ve performed exceptionally well in our first four matches. Now, we face the last four games, two at home and two away, starting with tomorrow’s match against the Bundesliga’s third-placed team. Winning this game is vital to ensure we finish in the top eight and qualify for the next round. Tomorrow is crucial, and our focus is unwavering.”

When asked if the defeat to Newcastle impacts their title aspirations, Guardiola replied, “Losing four games in twelve means we have much to improve upon. Mathematically, we still have opportunities to win the FA Cup, Carabao Cup, Champions League, and Premier League. You, as experienced journalists, understand that I haven’t discussed the quadruple in November or December when we achieved it before. This season will not be an exception.”

Manchester City will enter Tuesday’s match against Leverkusen as favorites, boasting an impressive home record in the Champions League, having gone 23 matches unbeaten in the group stage at the Etihad. Guardiola is eager for his squad to rebound from their loss to Newcastle, especially with their next challenge in the competition being against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu.