Pep Guardiola expressed deep concerns about his Manchester City team’s mental fragility after they surrendered a 3-0 lead against Feyenoord in a Champions League clash. The collapse resulted in a 3-3 draw, leaving the manager with the difficult task of rallying his squad for their crucial Premier League encounter against Liverpool on Sunday.
City appeared to be cruising to a comfortable victory with goals from Erling Haaland (2) and Ilkay Gündogan, maintaining control for the first 75 minutes. However, a sudden collapse saw the visitors strike back with goals from Anis Hadj Moussa, Santiago Giménez, and David Hancko. The turning point was a series of errors, including loose passes from Josko Gvardiol that led to two of the goals and a misjudged rush by goalkeeper Ederson that allowed Hancko to net the equalizer.
After the game, Guardiola described the season as particularly challenging, admitting the team has been “fragile” and struggling with recent form. Despite breaking a five-match losing streak with the draw, the inability to close out a game from such a dominant position highlighted the issues facing the team. Guardiola acknowledged that while his players performed well for most of the match, they lost their composure after Feyenoord’s first goal.
Reflecting on the collapse, Guardiola admitted he wasn’t sure if the problem was purely mental. He expressed frustration at the preventable nature of the goals, noting that the team seemed to forget their game plan after conceding. The manager emphasized that his role now is to refocus and prepare the squad for the demanding schedule ahead.
The result leaves City in a precarious position in the Champions League group stage, sitting 15th with eight points. With only three games remaining against high-caliber opponents Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain, and Club Brugge, securing a top-eight finish and direct qualification for the last 16 appears increasingly challenging. Guardiola stressed the importance of learning from these mistakes, though he admitted the result was difficult to accept in the moment.
In the Premier League, City faces the possibility of falling 11 points behind leaders Liverpool if they lose their upcoming match at Anfield. Guardiola acknowledged the critical nature of this fixture but expressed confidence in his team’s ability to recover. He stated that the focus will shift immediately to preparing for the Liverpool game, using the next few days to work on tactics and rebuild morale.
Despite the frustrations, Guardiola defended Gvardiol, who was involved in the errors leading to Feyenoord’s comeback. He highlighted the young defender’s overall performance, calling him the best player on the pitch and emphasizing that individual mistakes shouldn’t overshadow the broader team effort. Guardiola expressed confidence that these experiences would serve as valuable lessons for the player and the squad as a whole.
Guardiola’s task now is to reinvigorate a team that has shown glimpses of brilliance but lacks the resilience to maintain dominance. The manager, known for his tactical acumen and ability to inspire, will need to draw on every resource to navigate this challenging period. While the season is far from over, the coming weeks could be pivotal in determining whether City can turn things around or if the campaign will become an uphill battle on multiple fronts.
As Guardiola works to address these challenges, the Liverpool clash looms as a defining moment. A strong performance could reinstate confidence and reinvigorate their title ambitions, while another setback might deepen the sense of fragility that has crept into the squad. For now, the focus remains on recovery, reflection, and regaining the winning mentality that has characterized City’s success in recent years.
