Guardiola Takes the Blame After Manchester City’s Shock Home Loss to Leverkusen
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has accepted full responsibility for his side’s surprise 2–0 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday night.
The City boss made a bold move ahead of the fixture, introducing ten changes to the team that had already suffered a 2–0 loss to Newcastle United over the weekend. Big names like Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, Jeremy Doku, Gianluigi Donnarumma, and Ruben Dias were left on the bench as Guardiola opted for heavy rotation.
The gamble backfired.
Alejandro Grimaldo struck in the first half before Patrick Schick added another after the break, handing Leverkusen a famous victory at the Etihad Stadium.
Guardiola eventually brought on Haaland, Foden, Doku, and Rayan Cherki, but the damage had been done, and Leverkusen held on for a clean sheet.
Speaking to TNT Sports, Guardiola took responsibility for the defeat, saying:
“I understand… Absolutely I have to accept it. If we win, it would not be a problem. I accept maybe it’s a lot, but playing every two, three, four days… Seeing the result, maybe it’s too much.”
He added that while the players who started were “exceptional,” City still lacked the sharpness and determination needed at the highest level.
“We didn’t believe, ‘OK it’s the moment to attack’ or ‘OK it’s the moment to defend.’ We have to be present defensively and offensively with determination,” he said.
The defeat leaves Manchester City in sixth place in their Champions League group—an unusual and worrying spot for the defending champions.
Opinion: Pep’s Rotation Masterclass… Gone Wrong
One thing about Pep Guardiola: he’s brilliant, brave, and sometimes a little too bold. Tuesday night felt like one of those moments where genius and risk collided—and risk won.
His rotation strategy wasn’t without logic. With games coming thick and fast, preserving key players makes sense. But the Champions League is unforgiving. It doesn’t care about squad rotation, fixture congestion, or tactical experiments. It rewards sharpness and punishes hesitation.
City looked like a team caught between ideas—neither fully switched on nor fully confident. And Leverkusen, who have been playing fearless football this season, showed no respect for the champions. They smelled blood and took their chances.
To Guardiola’s credit, owning the decision publicly is a mark of leadership. Many managers hide behind excuses; Pep rarely does.
But this loss sends a message:
The Champions League is not the place for overthinking.
City will bounce back—they always do—but this defeat is a reminder that even the world’s best manager can misjudge the balance between rest and risk.
If City want to avoid a group-stage disaster, they’ll need full focus, full intensity, and yes… a little less roulette from their manager.
