Guardiola’s Milestone Marred by Leverkusen Defeat

Pep Guardiola marked his 100th Champions League match in charge of Manchester City on Tuesday, but it was Bayer Leverkusen who celebrated after securing a remarkable 2-0 victory, leaving Guardiola and his team in disbelief.

Despite arriving late to England due to travel issues, Leverkusen surprised many by clinching a memorable win on this milestone occasion for the Spaniard. Guardiola had expressed prior to the match that his experience in the prestigious tournament had been filled with more disappointments than successes, and this defeat added to his woes.

The loss was largely attributed to Guardiola’s decision to make ten changes to the lineup that suffered a defeat against Newcastle on Saturday. This gamble did not pay off as expected. “I have to accept it,” Guardiola told TNT Sport regarding the criticism he faced for the numerous changes. “If we had won, it wouldn’t have been a problem, but I acknowledge that perhaps it was too many changes.”

He continued, “I have always believed in involving everyone throughout the long season, but maybe I went overboard. The players approached the game with an attitude of avoiding mistakes instead of executing our game plan. We fell short of the performance we anticipated. I take full responsibility. We missed a significant opportunity, and now we must regroup for upcoming matches.”

Leverkusen’s head coach, Kasper Hjulmand, commented on City’s lineup, stating, “The schedule is tight for all teams. Typically, a Champions League team rotates around 5.5 players, but regardless of who Manchester City puts on the pitch, they field a strong team.”

A logistical issue with their luggage caused Leverkusen’s plane to return to the departure gate on Monday, resulting in a delayed arrival in Manchester. Despite this setback, one senior member of Leverkusen’s staff expressed surprise at City’s starting lineup, noting that they had prepared for a different team composition.

Key players like Edmond Tapsoba, Lucas Vazquez, Exequiel Palacios, and Equi Fernandez were unavailable, which some believed might impact their performance. City’s star players, including Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, and Rayan Cherki, were initially benched and ultimately could not turn the tide in the second half.

City struggled to find their rhythm, and the extensive changes in the lineup left them disjointed. This defeat could prove detrimental as they prepare to face European giants Real Madrid on December 10 under pressure to secure a positive outcome.

Guardiola remarked, “The players tried to perform, but in a big team, one must deliver. Everyone, including those who came off the bench, showed the same reluctance. Every shot was blocked, and we slipped ten times. Perhaps if we had fielded more regular players, we might have had the confidence needed. I always aim to involve everyone, especially after an international break, given the frequency of upcoming matches. No one can sustain that level of intensity.”

Guardiola became only the third manager to lead an English team in over 100 Champions League matches, joining the ranks of Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger, but this milestone was overshadowed by the disappointing performance.

Michael Brown, a former City midfielder, raised a critical point on BBC Radio 5 Live, asking, “Why didn’t you field a stronger lineup? Winning the match should have been the priority, and then adjustments could have been made. There was an expectation of an easy win, but those changes provided the visiting team with a significant morale boost.”

The Leverkusen players celebrated their unexpected triumph alongside enthusiastic fans, with skipper Alejandro Grimaldo scoring a stunning opener and Patrik Schick adding a second goal with a powerful header.

Hjulmand praised his team’s character, stating, “We are thrilled with this victory and the character we displayed. This is a night to remember and pivotal for our development. We played with courage and composure, and we needed some luck as well as a great performance from our goalkeeper. Three points at City is not something one expects.”

Former Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah expressed his delight, saying, “It’s an incredible feeling, especially considering the absence of many senior players. The way the team rallied together demonstrated the character and determination needed to succeed.”