‘We didn’t try, simple as that” – Pep Guardiola reflects on horror week of Newcastle and Bayer Leverkusen defeats | OneFootball

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has reflected on the criticism of his team selection for his side’s 2-0 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen in the UEFA Champions League in midweek.

The Blues produced a lacklustre, toothless display that saw them slip to ninth place in the UEFA Champions League group-phase standings as goals from Alejandro Grimaldo and Patrik Schick inflicted the first European defeat of the season for Guardiola’s men.

Guardiola made 10 changes to the starting XI from City’s 2-1 loss to Newcastle at St. James’ Park last week and the Catalan faced huge criticism from pundits and fans alike for his rotation as the Blues were devoid of a cutting edge in attack and were porous in defence.

The 54-year-old manager admitted that he was at fault for making one change too many against Leverkusen, who took full advantage of City’s rejig and left the Etihad Stadium will all three points to give them renewed hope of making the Round of 16.

City return to Premier League duties on Saturday against Leeds United and nothing less than three points will do for the Blues, whose fourth league defeat of the season last week helped Arsenal extend their lead at the top of the table to six points.

Speaking in a press conference on Friday afternoon, Guardiola was asked to reflect on his team selection against Leverkusen and how he looks back at the last week, where City have lost twice in two competitions.

“Not much disappointed about Newcastle but the last one (against Bayer Leverkusen) yeah, for my decisions and we didn’t try. Simple as that,” the Manchester City boss said.

Arsenal have set the tone for the title race in the autumn and there is little room for the Blues to slip up as the Gunners roll over every side in their way, having also seen off Bundesliga champions in the UEFA Champions League in midweek.

City are undergoing a period of transition but will still be striving to challenge for the Premier League title, with Guardiola working with a very different group of players as he did at his disposal in the indifferent, trophyless 2024-25 campaign.

“I had a lot of confidence in them (the Manchester City players against Bayer Leverkusen),” Guardiola added on the midweek defeat at the Etihad Stadium.

“Still right now I have a lot, a huge, huge value of what they are as football players, and maybe what I think about them is higher than them of themselves. It was a good lesson for me, even with quite (a lot) of experience as a manager, it was a good lesson for the future.”

Guardiola is expected to revert to his preferred and strongest starting XI against Leeds United and the Manchester City boss will not be criticised as much as he was in midweek should he again decide to make 10 changes to his lineup after Tuesday’s horror show.