Pep Guardiola took responsibility for Manchester City’s 2-0 Champions League defeat to Bayer Leverkusen, admitting he might have made too many changes to the starting lineup, which now puts their qualification hopes under pressure.
According to a report from ManchesterWorld by Rich Fay, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has conceded that he might have rotated his squad excessively for their 2-0 Champions League defeat against Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday night.
Guardiola, who had made ten changes from the team that lost to Newcastle, left key players like Gianluigi Donnarumma, Phil Foden, and Erling Haaland on the bench.
The visitors took an early lead through Alejandro Grimaldo before Patrik Schick doubled their advantage after the break.
Despite introducing three substitutes at half-time and later bringing on Rayan Cherki and Haaland, City failed to score.
Speaking after the match, Guardiola acknowledged the rotation policy while accepting the consequences of the result.
“I take full responsibility, still I think the players that started were exceptional players but we missed something needed at the highest level. We now have to fight for the next games,” Guardiola told TNT Sports.
When pressed on the wholesale changes, he added: “I have to accept it. If we win it wouldn’t be a problem so I have to accept it that maybe it’s a lot but I think playing every two or three days we need to [make changes] but seeing the result, maybe it’s too much.”
The loss leaves City in sixth place in the Champions League league phase, facing a major test away against Real Madrid next month.