Pep Guardiola marked his 100th match as manager of Manchester City in the Champions League on Tuesday, but the celebration quickly turned into frustration as Bayer Leverkusen produced a memorable 2 to 0 win that left their supporters celebrating long after the final whistle. What should have been a proud moment for Guardiola instead became a night he will want to forget.Leverkusen arrived in England later than planned due to a luggage issue in Germany that forced their plane to return to the departure gate. Despite this disruption, the Bundesliga side showed impressive composure and confidence throughout the match. Manchester City supporters expected their team to dominate even with several adjustments to the starting lineup, but the reality was far different.
Guardiola Regrets Over-Rotation as Manchester City Falls to Surprising Defeat
Guardiola had admitted the day before that he has experienced more setbacks than successes in the Champions League with Manchester City. This result added another painful chapter. The manager made ten changes from the team that lost to Newcastle at the weekend, a decision that drew criticism even before the match had finished. Guardiola accepted responsibility afterward, stating that if the team had won, the number of changes would not have been questioned. He acknowledged that his desire to involve the entire squad during the long season may have been excessive.Members of the Leverkusen staff later admitted they were surprised by the team Manchester City fielded. With several of their own senior players injured and six under nineteen players on the bench, they expected a tougher challenge from Guardiola’s side. Instead, Manchester City appeared slow and disconnected, lacking the rhythm normally associated with the Premier League champions.Star players such as Erling Haaland, Phil Foden and Rayan Cherki began the match on the bench and could not change the game once introduced. Omar Marmoush worked hard up front but struggled to make an impact, while Savinho and Oscar Bobb remained largely on the edges of the action. The lack of cohesion was clear, and the home crowd grew increasingly quiet as the match progressed.
Guardiola admitted that the performance fell far below expectations, stating that the players seemed afraid to take risks and did not follow the plan with enough conviction. He suggested that using more of his regular starters might have provided greater confidence. With difficult fixtures approaching, including a critical trip to Real Madrid on 10 December, this defeat could prove costly.Leverkusen earned their goals through an excellent long range strike from Alejandro Grimaldo and a powerful second half header from Patrik Schick. Their supporters celebrated loudly at full time, led by a drummer and a fan with a microphone, creating a scene that highlighted the significance of the victory.Manager Kasper Hjulmand praised his team for their bravery and calm approach, noting that taking three points at Manchester City is something no visiting side can take for granted. The result showcased determination, discipline and teamwork, especially with many senior players missing.For Manchester City, the night served as a warning. The competition allows little margin for error, and Guardiola will expect a far stronger response in the matches ahead.
source:BBC
