Pep Guardiola has admitted he made a mistake against Bayer Leverkusen but there was another issue on display | OneFootball

Manchester City went down to a poor 2-nil defeat at the hands of Bayer Leverkusen last night at the Etihad Stadium. The best way to describe Manchester City’s performance in their UEFA Champions League league phase matchday five fixture was that they were disjointed and lacklustre. There was a reason for City’s disjointed performance. Pep Guardiola heavily rotated his team as he made ten changes to the team that was beaten by Newcastle last Sunday. While that contributed to City’s poor performance, as did a hungry and well-managed Bayer Leverkusen team, there was another issue that stood out during Manchester City’s defeat last night.

Pep Guardiola admitted after last night’s match that his team selection didn’t work.

Speaking after last night’s defeat to Bayer Leverkusen, Pep Guardiola admitted that his decision to make wholesale changes to his preferred starting eleven didn’t pan out as planned. He admitted that Bayer Leverkusen were too good for his team on the night and that Manchester City’s defeat rests solely on his shoulders. Pep Guardiola explained: “Too many changes. What I said, always I believe the long seasons, games every two or three days, everyone has to be involved.”

“Maybe it was too much. Seeing the results. I think they played looking to not make mistakes and not to do what you have to do.”

“If you are thinking to avoid not punishing the team, you are not free or relaxed not just with the ball, but without it.”

“We were close, but not aggressive enough. They are a really good team. Congratulate Leverkusen, of course. It is what it is.”

“I take responsibility. I see them and I like everyone to be involved. When you are 3, 4, 5 or 6 games not playing it’s tough. But maybe it was too much.”

Pep Guardiola’s decision made sense but a host of the players selected didn’t seize their opportunity.

It was an eyebrow-raising moment when the Manchester City lineup was announced last night. To see ten changes made to the starting lineup was a surprise. The decision to play a host of Manchester City’s squad players had merit. City’s squad players need minutes in their legs and in the case of Rayan Ait-Nouri and Omar Marmoush, they have spent lengthy time out due to injury. They needed to play as did their teammates. But the decision to make wholesale changes backfired. Perhaps a better move would have been to make five or six changes rather instead of ten. While Pep Guardiola’s decision didn’t pan out, the players who started last night’s match didn’t seize their moment.

There was enough quality on the pitch for Manchester City to beat Bayer Leverkusen. The Bundesliga side played well and deserved their victory. They exploited Manchester City’s weaknesses and got their rewards. But the players who started last night’s match didn’t perform. They didn’t do what was required and that cost City dearly. Perhaps they shouldn’t have been put in that position with the team selection but once the players were on the pitch they had a job to do. They didn’t do that and City were soundly beaten by Bayer Leverkusen.

Pep Guardiola admitted he get his team selection wrong last night. His team slumped to their second consecutive defeat in all competitions. But while Pep Guardiola admitted he made a mistake, the players who started last night’s defeat to Bayer Leverkusen didn’t stand up and seize their opportunity. That is an issue as City face a hectic schedule in the coming weeks and they need their entire squad to contribute and not have so much left to so few.