In a stark departure from the lineup that faced Newcastle in the Premier League's 12th round last weekend, coach Pep Guardiola made ten changes for Man City's match against Leverkusen on 25/11. Midfielder Nico Gonzalez was the sole player to retain his starting position. Key figures like Gianluigi Donnarumma, Ruben Dias, Jeremy Doku, Erling Haaland, and Phil Foden were all placed on the bench, with Nathan Ake, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Abdukodir Khusanov, Rico Lewis, and Oscar Bobb stepping in.
The extensive changes proved costly as Man City struggled to impose their style, resulting in a 0-2 defeat to Leverkusen. This loss halted the club's 24-match unbeaten streak at home in the Champions League group stage, a run dating back to 9/2018. It also ended a 13-match winning streak against German teams at home in the Champions League, which began after a 1-3 loss to Bayern in 10/2013.
Following the match, Guardiola openly acknowledged his mistake, admitting he "was too kind" in attempting to give opportunities to less-utilized players. "Too many changes. Perhaps it was excessive, and looking at the result, it certainly was", he remarked. "I wanted everyone to be involved, but I might have gone too far. It's the first time in my life I've done that, and clearly, it was too much".
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Coach Pep Guardiola brought Erling Haaland onto the field during Man City's 0-2 loss to Leverkusen in the fifth match of the Champions League group stage at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England on 25/11. Photo: *Reuters* |
The Spanish coach explained that a demanding schedule forced him to rotate key players, who had been playing continuously. However, he noted that players who rarely feature often lack the necessary confidence. Guardiola suggested that the desire to maintain squad cohesion can sometimes backfire, particularly against a well-organized and disciplined opponent like Leverkusen. "When you play regularly, you feel more comfortable", he stated. "When you don't, sometimes you're afraid to make mistakes. But football is about daring, about taking risks".
One of the most notable changes involved Erling Haaland, who started on the bench. Guardiola clarified that this decision was due to the Norwegian striker's physical condition after the international break and the recent match against Newcastle. "Erling cannot play 95 minutes every match", Guardiola stated. "He had just played two full matches for Norway, celebrated their World Cup 2026 qualification, and then played against Newcastle. I wanted him to have quality playing time rather than being continuously forced onto the field".
Despite the loss, Man City remains sixth with 10 points, securing direct qualification to the Champions League round of 16. The team still has three matches remaining against Real Madrid, Bodo/Glimt, and Galatasaray. Man City aims to finish in the top 8 to avoid a repeat of last season's performance, when they placed 22nd and entered a play-off round against Real.
"We have three more matches, and we'll see what happens", Guardiola stressed. "The important thing now is to avoid excessive talk, maintain focus, and prepare for the next Premier League match".
Hong Duy (*according to ESPN, Mancity.com*)
