Pep Guardiola admits team selection mistake | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola admitted he may have pushed the limits of rotation after Manchester City’s heavily-changed side fell to a 2-0 defeat against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League, a result he conceded offers a lesson in management as much as performance.

Guardiola made 10 changes for the trip to Germany, the first time in his career he has altered almost an entire starting XI. Erling Haaland, Phil Foden and Jeremy Doku were among those rested, but their replacements struggled to impose themselves before several were summoned from the bench in the second half.

“If we win, it wouldn’t have been a problem,” Guardiola reflected speaking to media after the game. “But I accept that maybe it was a lot. I always believe in a long season and the need for everyone to be involved, but maybe it was too much. They played not to make mistakes rather than doing what we had to do.”

The City boss added that the congested schedule had forced him to seek opportunities for rotation, with Haaland in particular unable to play “95 minutes every time”. But he acknowledged the gamble had backfired. “It was the first time in my life I’ve done it, and it was too much.”

Guardiola insisted the defeat should not reflect on the quality of those selected, but admitted the team lacked conviction in decisive moments. “We had chances, half chances, but always with a block or something there. We didn’t have that belief to attack or defend with real determination. Sometimes it happens.”

GFN | Finn Entwistle