Pep Guardiola admits doubts after Man City lose again in Champions League
Manchester City’s nightmare run continued on Tuesday as they suffered a 2-0 loss to Juventus in the Champions League.
The defeat in Turin marked a disappointing seventh loss in just 10 games for the defending English champions.
Goals from Dusan Vlahovic and Weston McKennie handed City another setback in a season that has seen them struggle to find their form.
Speaking after the match, a visibly frustrated Pep Guardiola admitted he was beginning to question himself as the head coach of Manchester City.
“Of course, I am questioning myself,” Guardiola said. “I have my thoughts. I’m stable in good moments and bad moments. I try to find a way to do it.”
Despite the ongoing defeats, Guardiola stressed that he would continue to work hard and remain focused on improving the team.
“We have been in this situation this month many times. Tomorrow we recover, prepare for United with our people, insist on the good things we do, and try to be better,” he added.
City’s defeat in Turin leaves them in a perilous position in Group H. With a crucial match against Paris Saint-Germain next month, Guardiola’s side faces the very real possibility of failing to progress to the knockout stages of the Champions League.
If City lose to PSG in their next match, they could drop into the bottom eight of the group table, an outcome that would be disastrous for the club’s hopes of European success.
Though Juventus have struggled this season, winning only one of their previous six matches, Manchester City was unable to break them down.
Guardiola’s team failed to create enough clear chances and lacked the clinical finishing needed to compete at the highest level.
“We were incredibly aggressive in our high pressing,” Guardiola explained. “It is a cross for the first goal, and Vlahovic is strong in this position. I don’t think it was defensive mistakes.”
City’s struggles have extended beyond Europe. They have also had a difficult start to the Premier League season, where they will face rivals Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium this Sunday.
With City’s form looking worrying, Guardiola faces growing pressure.
Yet, the City manager denied that he was facing the toughest challenge of his career, despite the team’s poor run of results.
“My biggest challenge was when I first came to Barcelona and had to get results to keep working,” Guardiola said. “It’s life. Sometimes you have a bad period. I’m going to insist until we’re there.”
Guardiola’s faith in his players remains strong, despite the recent losses.
“I love my team,” he said. “Of course, it’s tough. But except for one or two games in this period that were not good, the rest we played well.”
The key issue, according to Guardiola, is not a lack of effort or ability, but rather missed opportunities.
“We miss the last pass, not arrive in the six-yard box, and have the composure to make the assist. But we are the best,” he said.
Midfielder Ilkay Gündogan, however, believes the team’s struggles are mental, pointing to a lack of confidence as a major factor in their poor form.
“Confidence is a big part,” Gündogan said. “It’s a mental issue as well.”
But Guardiola disagreed with his player’s assessment, emphasizing that the team’s performance has been strong in many games.
“I am not agreeing with Ilkay,” Guardiola said firmly. “We have been incredibly aggressive in our high pressing, and we played well.”
Looking ahead, Guardiola is focused on the task at hand: securing qualification for the knockout rounds of the Champions League.
“We need one point, three points. Go to Paris to try to do it, and then the last game is at home,” Guardiola said.
