Pep Guardiola has expressed his sadness and disappointment over the outcome of Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League clash with Feyenoord Rotterdam at the Etihad.
City were drawn with the Eredivisie side for matchday 5 of the new Champions League format and on paper, it looked like a win – albeit not an easy one. Going into the match, however, the reigning Premier League champions were shaky and not many had the confidence that they could do what they were expected to do.
Come the hour, Guardiola’s men rallied to score three goals before the hour mark, giving their fans something to celebrate after weeks of poor form. Two goals from Erling Haaland, their start striker who had been on a four week drought, and a second from returnee midfielder İlkay Gündoğan set them up for a win that could have seen them cement their top eight spot with two games to go.
Then followed a defensive collapse that saw them concede three straight goals to drop two points, sending them into mid-table with eight points and now needing a miracle to avoid the playoffs.
Pep Guardiola is unhappy, and he stated that the outcome of the game is a difficult one to swallow.
“[It’s] difficult to swallow right now,” Guardiola reflected. “The game was good, we scored three and we could have scored more. At the end we are not stable enough to do it.
“We did a good game but then we were not able to control the last minutes.
“We have to accept it for many circumstances. The team was so committed in many things.
“It happened today. We are not able to win games.
“As a team we have always found a way to win games. Right now, after 3-0, other situations, it’s as if nothing happened. We could not score the fourth or fifth.
“Unfortunately something happened and we were not strong enough and we have to avoid the mistakes.
“Everybody knows the situations. We have to prepare and recover. Have a day off.
“It has been, is being and will be a tough season for us. We have to accept it for many circumstances. The team was so committed in many things.
“Unfortunately something happened and we were not strong enough and we have to try to avoid the mistakes.”
Manchester City’s next challenge is Liverpool at Anfield, which will worry City fans as the Premier League gets into crunch time.
