MAN CITY 0, BAYER LEVERKUSEN 2
Pep Guardiola admitted his gamble spectacularly backfired as Manchester City suffered a first Champions League loss of the season.
Guardiola made 10 changes from the defeat at Newcastle – only Nico Gonzales kept his place – as German Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen triumphed at the Etihad.
Goals from Alejandro Grimaldo and Patrik Schick inflicted defeat in Guardiola’s 100th match in the Champions League for City.
And despite Guardiola bringing on the cavalry in the second half, the damage had been done and there was no way back as they suffered a first home group game defeat in the Champions League since Olympique Lyonnais won in 2018.
It was clear why Guardiola made sweeping changes as many of the squad players were badly in need of match time – this was patently clear with their poor performances.
But making so many was a risk which, on this occasion did not work as Guardiola scored an own goal against a depleted Leverkusen squad which had 11 players missing.
Guardiola shouldered blame for the defeat when asked about the multiple changes.
He said: “I have to accept it. If we win it wouldn’t be a problem, so I have to accept it that maybe it’s a lot, but I think playing every two or three days we need to [make changes] but seeing the result, maybe it’s too much.
“I take full responsibility, still I think the players that started were exceptional players, but we missed something needed at the highest level. We now have to fight for the next games.
“We are in a good position in the Champions League and that gives us a chance to make changes.
“We have weapons on the bench, but it didn’t work.
“They [Leverkusen] were good. In general, we did very good things as well, we had more chances than them, but they were half-chances.”
Leverkusen defender Jarrell Quansah, brother of ex-Mossley player Keenan, said: “It’s an unbelievable feeling [to win at the Etihad] because coming into tonight, we had a lot of senior players absent.
“The way the boys pulled through, everyone led tonight and that’s what we needed. We needed a lot of character and a lot of fight and grit.”
Embed from Getty Images“We know they’ve got a lot of world class quality and even the players that started tonight we know they’re world class players playing for the countries as well so, it was always going to be a tough task when they came on. We defended a bit deeper than I would have liked to but glad to get the win.”
“We’ve got quality players. We’re a completely new team, a lot of senior players went last season and a lot of players have had to step up this season. We’ve got so much quality and so much youth. We’ve got to try and implement how we want to play the game and we managed to do that in parts tonight.”
Leverkusen manager Kasper Hjulmand, a former Denmark national team boss, said: “I am proud of the character shown.
“It is a night to remember and gives us clarity with what we want to do and fuels our development. We showed a lot of character and courage.”
Guardiola sprang a surprise with his starting line. Erling Haaland and number one goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma were on the bench.
James Trafford started in goal and the likes of Rayan Ait-Nouri, Oscar Bobb and Savinho all came in, with John Stones captaining the side and Omar Marmoush playing up front.
Needless to say, it was a very strong bench should things not be going City’s way.
Leverkusen manager Kasper Hjulmand gave a start to former Liverpool defender Quansah while former Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken was between the sticks.
On-loan City midfielder Claudio Echeverri has found minutes had to come by this season and was once again on the bench alongside former Burnley man Nathan Tella.
Nathan Ake had an early chance, but Flekken pulled off a super save.
Guardiola’s decision to make so many changes looked to have backfired when Leverkusen took the lead midway through the half.
A swift counterattack ended a cross from the right being laid of by Christian Kofane to Grimaldo and the Spanish international drilled home a low shot.
It was a limp first-half display from City, though Tijjani Reijnders had an effort well saved by Flekken right at the death.
It was a measure of Guardiola’s view of the opening period that he made three changes for the restart as Ait-Nouri, Bobb and Rico Lewis made way for Nico O’Reilly, Jeremy Doku and Phil Foden.
The changes failed to have the desire effect of kick-starting City who conceded a second goal in the 54th minute.
Another neat move ended with a cross from the left as Schick got goal side of Ake to head home from eight yards.
Guardiola called for further reinforcements mid-half as Haaland and Rayan Cherki were introduced for Omar Marmoush and Abdukodir Khusanov.
Haaland had a chance as he break through on goal but Flekken saved bravely at his feet.
Another chance fell to the Norwegian who swung a boot and skied a shot well over the bar as City toiled to make the breakthrough.
There was one late hance, a free kick from Cherki which was well kept out by Flekken diving full length to his left.
But the final whistle was met with an eery hush and the occasional boo as it was an unexpected loss against a team which they possibly underestimated.
Leverkusen may not be a powerhouse in European football, but they are third in the Bundesliga which underlined why they should not have been taken lightly by City who fielded effectively their second string.