Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has explained the unusual reason behind the cut on his nose, which was visible during his side’s dramatic 3-3 draw with Feyenoord in the Champions League.
Guardiola, who was sporting a nasty cut to his nose, revealed that he had accidentally cut himself with his finger during the match. In a lighthearted moment, he joked, “I want to hurt myself.”
The City boss’s comments came after his side threw away a 3-0 lead to draw 3-3 with Feyenoord, extending their winless run to six games. This is the first time Guardiola’s side has gone six games without a win since his first season in the Premier League eight years ago.
The match was marked by some horrendous defending from City, who conceded three goals in the final 15 minutes. Despite this, Guardiola leapt to the defence of his young Croatian defender, Josko Gvardiol, who made two crucial errors during the match.
“He is so young. He will learn. I will be so wrong if I point the finger, he’s a fantastic boy. Now, more than ever, he needs help,” Guardiola said.
The draw marked a historic moment for City, as it was the first time since May 1989 that they had failed to win a game after taking a three-goal lead.
Guardiola admitted that he did not see the Feyenoord comeback coming, saying, “The game is never over, but at 3-0, I could not see any danger.”
City’s dismal run of form will be put to the test on Sunday when they face Premier League leaders Liverpool at Anfield. If City lose, they will fall 11 points behind the Reds, a gap that Guardiola has admitted would be insurmountable.
Image Credit: Getty Images Sport
[…] Guardiola’s tactics have also come under scrutiny, with the team’s high defensive line leaving them vulnerable to counter-attacks. The coach has admitted that his team are “fragile” and “not emotionally stable”, while former City defender Gael Clichy has said that the team are missing a “vocal leader” at the back. […]