Man City manager admits his team are defensively ‘not stable’ after conceding three goals in 15 minutes in the Champions League.
Manchester City’s losing sequence is over – just. But they remain a listing ship that can go down at any moment. “Fragile” was Pep Guardiola’s summation of his team’s state, and a clue to the manager’s own mood was the cut to his nose that he stated was self‑inflicted, by a finger, due to the contest’s travails.
City were 3-0 up after 75 minutes but a late horror show ceded the advantage as Feyenoord preyed on home nerves via Anis Hadj Moussa, Santiago Giménez and David Hancko, who drew Feyenoord level to secure a well-fought point.
The draw on Tuesday did snap City’s five-game losing streak but did little to inspire confidence ahead of Sunday’s daunting trip to Liverpool.
The bigger picture, here, is that Rodri remains badly missed – for his steady head and cool control. Hadj Moussa’s and Giménez’s 75th‑ and 82nd-minute strikes each came because of Josko Gvardiol losing his calm and playing sloppy passes, while Ederson was at fault for rushing out for the visitors’ equaliser.
City are 15th, with eight points and nine to play for, so finishing in the top-eight berth that takes a side straight into the last 16 is no gimme, particularly as Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain are two of their final three foes, Club Brugge the other. City conceded at least twice for a sixth successive game for the first time since 1963. Guardiola was calm afterwards, while acknowledging none of Feyenoord’s “three episodes” should have been allowed.
Guardiola said: “It will be a tough season for us and we have to accept it. We lost a lot of games lately, we are fragile and of course we needed a victory. We were playing at a good level but the first time something happened we had problems. I don’t know if it is mental. The first goal cannot happen and the second as well. After that we forget what happens.
“Three episodes, they didn’t allow us what we needed to win for many reasons, not just in terms of qualification or get the points to go through. Other reasons. It is what it is, difficult to swallow right now.”
City are 15th in the Champions League table on eight points, with nine to play for against Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain and Club Brugge, as they seek the top-eight berth that awards direct qualification for the last 16.
