Pep Guardiola urges his Man City side to play without fear as they prepare to host Leeds | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola has called on his Manchester City side to play with freedom and trust their ability as they prepare for Saturday’s Premier League meeting with Leeds United at the Etihad Stadium.

The Cityzens are heading into Saturday’s action having lost back-to-back games for the first time since the start of the season against Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton & Hove Albion.

This time around, a narrow 2 -1 loss away to Newcastle United last weekend was followed by a disappointing 2-0 home defeat to Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League.

It’s a rare wobble for a team renowned for their consistency, but Guardiola believes that his side can learn a lot from their recent setback.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference, he made it clear that the most important change he wants to see is for his side to play without bravery.

“We know the competitions are tough,” Guardiola said. “I’m not disappointed about Newcastle, but the other one, yes. I have a lot of confidence in them –  I have huge value in them as football players.

“[But against Leverkusen] they felt they played not to make mistakes, not to play to do something which is so difficult.

“In football, you have to play offense, defense, and you have to try. If you lose in the actions, you did it. They played safe and [felt if I make] no mistake I won’t be noticed, which is so difficult.”

Guardiola confirmed that City will be without Rodri for tomorrow’s game against Leeds, with the Spanish midfielder struggling to shake off repeated setbacks.

However, City will be keen to get the job done without their Ballon d’Or winner.

They head into this weekend’s Premier League showdown sitting third in the table, seven points behind table-topping Arsenal and just one off second-placed Chelsea.

With Chelsea set to host Arsenal in a top-of-the-table clash at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, Saturday’s meeting with Leeds could give Man City the ideal opportunity to close the gap.

City can’t afford to slip up against a relegation-threatened side while the top two go head to head, even though Guardiola has refused to admit that the title race is already in full swing.