Pep Guardiola described Manchester City’s 3-3 draw with Feyenoord in the Champions League on Tuesday as feeling like another defeat, after his side squandered a commanding 3-0 lead in the final 15 minutes. While the point ended a five-game losing streak for City, it did little to restore confidence ahead of their tough trip to Premier League leaders Liverpool on Sunday.
City’s Defensive Frailties Exposed Again
The draw marked City’s first failure to win a match in which they held a three-goal advantage since 1989 and the first time they had done so in the closing stages of a Champions League game. Despite goals from Erling Haaland (two) and Ilkay Gundogan putting City in a comfortable position, the defensive errors that have plagued their recent form allowed Anis Hadj Moussa, Santiago Gimenez, and David Hancko to pull Feyenoord back into the game and salvage a point.
Guardiola pointed to his team’s lack of stability at the back, saying, “We concede a lot of goals because we are not stable. We give them the first and the other ones and that is why it is difficult.”
Guardiola’s Frustration
The 3-0 lead should have been a confidence booster for City, but Guardiola acknowledged that the team’s fragility had once again been exposed. “The game (at 3-0) was good for the confidence, playing a good level, and the first time something happens we have problems,” he said.
City’s record in the Champions League is now just two wins from five matches, leaving them with work to do as they approach their away games against Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain. The team currently sits 15th in the group standings, with only eight points from five games, just one point ahead of Feyenoord.
Mental Strength Needed Ahead of Liverpool
Guardiola, who has seen his team’s confidence dip following a difficult run of results, emphasized the importance of a quick mental reset ahead of the Liverpool game. “Rest one or two days, clear the head mentally, and think of the next game,” Guardiola said when asked how he would address the team’s current struggles.
Nathan Ake, who was substituted out as part of a triple change when City led 3-0, stressed the need for greater mental strength from the squad. “At 3-0 up, we played quite well, had the game under control and it all changed,” Ake said. “We have to remain mentally more strong.” He went on to describe the night as “a tough one,” adding, “When you are 3-0 up, it feels like a defeat. It’s a tough night, but the only thing we can do is look forward to the next one, it’s another challenge we have to overcome.”
The Premier League leaders, Liverpool, currently enjoy an eight-point lead over City, and Guardiola has admitted that an 11-point gap would likely be insurmountable, even for a team that has won four consecutive Premier League titles.
With the pressure mounting, City’s focus will need to shift quickly to their next set of challenges if they are to bounce back and regain their form.
