Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola accepted full responsibility for the team’s Champions League defeat to Bayer Leverkusen following a “first time in my life” selection gamble.
Guardiola suffered the consequences of making ten changes to his starting lineup as City failed to recover from their 2-1 Premier League loss to Newcastle United on Saturday.
The Spanish tactician was in the dugout for the 100th Champions League match of his career on Tuesday, when City faced Bundesliga giants Leverkusen at Etihad Stadium.
It was a memorable occasion for one of Europe’s best coaches. Guardiola and City were not pleased, though, as Leverkusen outperformed his squad of reserve players.
See Also: Barcelona Team Bus Attacked Before Chelsea Tie As Shaken Stars Rushed To The Airport
Ruben Dias, Phil Foden, and Erling Haaland were among the important players left out of the starting lineup.
Alejandro Grimaldo and Patrik Schick scored goals for the visitors as City lost 2-0 as a result of the risky move.
Guardiola Took Full Responsibility
According to Goal, while speaking to reporters after the match, Guardiola said: “I take full responsibility. Too many changes. I always had the belief it’s a long season and everyone has to be involved but maybe it was too much.
It was the first time in my life I’ve done it and it was too much. I take responsibility but I saw them and I like everyone to be involved.
“When you are a football player and don’t play for five, six, seven games it’s tough but maybe it was too much.
“Always I like to be too nice and involve everyone because I have the feeling after the international break there are games every three or four days and there is no human being who can sustain that.
“We were at home, in a good position in the Champions League and I thought ‘let’s try and let’s have weapons on the bench’. It didn’t work and we have to accept it.”
COMMENTS