Pep Guardiola

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has accepted responsibility for his side’s humiliating 2-0 home defeat to Bayer Leverkusen in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, admitting his decision to make 10 changes to the starting lineup was a costly misjudgment.

The loss marked Guardiola’s 100th Champions League game in charge of City and snapped their 23-game unbeaten home run in the competition. Only midfielder Nico González retained his place from the weekend Premier League defeat at Newcastle United, with rare starts handed to James Trafford, Nathan Aké, and Oscar Bobb, among others.

Before the match, Guardiola explained to TNT Sports that he would have rotated all 11 players if possible, citing the need for “fresh legs” after a demanding schedule. However, the gamble backfired spectacularly. Alejandro Grimaldo opened the scoring in the 23rd minute with a low shot after a slick counterattack, before Patrik Schick doubled the lead in the 54th with a glancing header that caught Trafford off guard.

Speaking post-match to TNT Sports, Guardiola conceded:
“I understand your question. Absolutely, I have to accept it. I have to accept that if we win, it will not be a problem. I accept that maybe it’s a lot, but I think they’re playing every two or three or four days, we need to… but maybe it’s too much. Seeing the result, maybe it’s too much.”

The defeat leaves City with just one win from their first four Champions League games this season, placing them ninth in the league phase standings and heightening pressure ahead of their trip to Real Madrid on December 10. It also represents back-to-back losses across all competitions for the first time since August 2025.

Guardiola introduced Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, and Rayan Cherki in the second half, but the damage was done, as Leverkusen—thrashed 7-2 by PSG last month—capitalized on City’s rusty display to claim a vital three points in the race for knockout qualification.