Pep Guardiola sustained cuts and scratches on his face during Manchester City’s 3-3 draw with Feyenoord in the UEFA Champions League, acknowledging that the fans had every right to boo the team following their dramatic collapse.
City made history as the first team in Champions League history to lead by three goals as late as the 75th minute and still fail to win.
After the match, Guardiola, sporting a cut on his nose and scratches on his forehead, explained that the injuries were self-inflicted, jokingly adding, “I want to harm myself,” before leaving the press conference.
Josko Gvardiol was responsible for the first two goals conceded, but Guardiola quickly defended him. Despite this, the supporters expressed their frustration as City extended their winless streak to six games.
“After the last game against Tottenham, where we lost 4-0, they were there supporting us, applauding. Of course, they’re disappointed. I’m not here to remind them of past successes; I’m here to see the team win and perform well. They support us consistently, and they’re right to express how they feel.”
The draw marked the first time in Guardiola’s managerial career that one of his teams squandered a three-goal lead.
Gvardiol, who had a poor performance against Spurs, was again at fault for the Dutch side’s first two goals. Guardiola emphasised Gvardiol's youth and potential, saying, “He is so young; he will learn. In the past, he was the best player on the pitch, but it would be wrong to blame him for our defeat. He is a fantastic player and needs support now more than ever.”
Guardiola now faces the challenge of motivating his players ahead of their match against Premier League leaders Liverpool on Sunday, which will test their resilience.
“There was no need to say anything to them; they know what happened,” he stated. “We had three opportunities to win, but it’s tough to accept. We’re struggling to win games. In previous years, we always found a way, but now, at 3-0, we couldn’t score the fourth or fifth, and it slipped away.”
He reiterated his concerns from the 4-0 loss to Tottenham, highlighting that the team is currently “fragile” and unable to reach their usual defensive standards.
