Supervisor Pep Guardiola admitted he takes “full accountability” after his Manchester Metropolis fell to a 2-0 defeat in opposition to Bayer Leverkusen on the Etihad to finish their unbeaten begin to this season’s Champions League.
Alejandro Grimaldo and Patrick Schick scored the objectives because the Bundesliga membership, who had been environment friendly and efficient on the counter, came out on top following a lacklustre performance from Guardiola’s men.
The Metropolis boss had made wholesale modifications to the crew that misplaced to Newcastle within the Premier League on Saturday, with Nico Gonzalez the one Metropolis participant to maintain his place within the crew.
Nevertheless it was a choice that appeared to backfire as, with out the likes of high scorer Erling Haaland, who got here off the bench within the second-half, Leverkusen grew to become the primary German membership to win on Metropolis’s patch in additional than a decade.
“Effectively, it was not the efficiency we thought,” Guardiola instructed TNT Sports activities.
“I take full accountability, I nonetheless assume they’re distinctive gamers however we missed one thing that we wanted within the excessive degree. Now we’ve to struggle for the following video games.
“They [Leverkusen] had been good, and did additionally excellent issues. We had probabilities, we had greater than them, however half-chances, all the time with blocks or slips, all the time one thing there. We didn’t have the idea that it’s the second to assault, the second to defend. Typically it occurs.”
Metropolis have now misplaced again to again video games in all competitions and presently sit in sixth place within the Champions League desk.
Requested whether or not he regretted making so many modifications to the line-up, Guardiola stated: “I perceive your query. I’ve to simply accept it. If we win, it wouldn’t be an issue. I settle for it possibly be quite a bit, however we’re enjoying each two or three days.
“However seeing the consequence, possibly it’s an excessive amount of.”
Metropolis are again at house on Saturday after they welcome Leeds United to the Etihad within the Premier League hoping to keep away from a 3rd defeat in a row.
