Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola refused to point fingers at his players for their performance in their 3-3 draw against Feyenoord at home in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday.
The English champions thought they had brought an end to their losing run but they blew away a three-goal lead as they find themselves in unfamiliar territory, engulfed in a streak of six games without a win.
A miserable night at the weekend in the 4-0 home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur saw a repeat as the crowd booed City at the end of the tie after defensive errors gave room to three goals in 15 minutes for their Dutch opponents.
“It was not necessary to say anything to [the players], they know it perfectly,” Guardiola said.
“It is what it is, difficult to swallow now. We give away especially the first one and after we are not stable enough.”
A brace from Erling Haaland and a goal from Ilkay Gundogan had the home fans elated before Anis Hadj Moussa pulled a goal back for Feyenoord in the 75th minute when he pounced on a sloppy back pass from their Croatia defender Josko Gvardiol.
Another terrible pass by the 22-year-old led to Santiago Gimenez making it 3-2 seven minutes afterwards and then David Hancko levelled matters for the Dutch side in the 89th minute.
“He is so young, he’ll learn,” Guardiola spoke of Gvardiol, who looked devastated after Feyenoord’s second goal — … I’ll be so wrong if I point specific things at him. He’s a fantastic player, fantastic boy and more than ever must be helped.”
City, who were booed by their fans dropped to 15th in the 36-team table on eight points, two points off the top eight who qualify automatically for the round of 16, with the next 16 sides heading into a two-leg playoff to try to join them.
“They come here not to remember the success in the past, but to see the team win,” Guardiola said of the stunned City supporters.
“Of course, they are completely right to express what they feel. Of course [they are] disappointed.”
Guardiola’s team next battle one of their toughest tests of the season when they visit Premier League leaders Liverpool on Sunday. Yet another defeat would leave City 11 points behind the Reds.
Quizzed if he could boost the mental state of his players for the uphill challenge, Guardiola said, “We have to, we have to. It’s my job.”
