In the 5th round of the Champions League group stage, Manchester City suffered an unexpected defeat at home to Bayer Leverkusen, losing 0-2. After the match, the team's head coach, Josep Guardiola, spoke with the press and explained in detail the reasons that disrupted the game.
"Our game didn't go well, there were many changes"
Guardiola focused primarily on the rotation in the team and its impact:
"I really did make a lot of changes. Throughout the long season, there are matches every 2-3 days, so I have to give every player a chance. But this time the changes seem to have been a bit excessive - the result indicates this too. The guys tried not to make mistakes, but they couldn't do the necessary work. If you start playing to avoid mistakes, you won't move freely, won't perform well with the ball or without it."
"Bayer played aggressively, and we couldn't put enough pressure on them"
The coach stated that the team was not sufficiently attacking against the opponent:
"We had opportunities, but we couldn't show the necessary aggression. Bayer Leverkusen is a truly strong team, I congratulate them on their victory. I take responsibility for any mistakes. I want to bring all the players into the game, but it's not easy for a player who hasn't played in 3-6 matches. Maybe it was too risky this time."
"We lost our balance, and the reserves also suffered"
Guardiola did not hide the fact that the large changes in the squad negatively affected the team's performance:
"If you play for a big team, you have to prove yourself. Those who came off the bench felt the same pressure. We lost a lot of balance, many of our blows were repelled. The opponent showed very strong resistance.
Usually, when there are regular players, newcomers feel much more relaxed. But sometimes giving everyone a chance isn't the right decision."
"I wanted to try it, but the plan didn't work"
He also spoke openly about his pre-match plans:
"Before the game, I thought: we are in good shape regarding the home field and advancing from the group - we will try a new tactic. However, this plan did not yield the expected result. Now we will draw the right conclusions from this mistake."
The coach concluded the conversation:
"We don't give in to excessive emotions now. Let's get rid of unnecessary talk and start preparing for the next opponent - Leeds."
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