Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola expressed frustration after his team squandered a 3-0 lead in the final 15 minutes to draw 3-3 with Feyenoord in Tuesday’s Champions League clash. The dramatic collapse marked the first time City failed to win a match they led by three goals since 1989 and set a Champions League record for conceding such a lead in the final quarter-hour.
City, who snapped a five-game losing streak with the draw, remain vulnerable as defensive lapses allowed Anis Hadj Moussa, Santiago Gimenez, and David Hancko to salvage a point for Feyenoord. Guardiola acknowledged the team’s struggles, saying, “We concede a lot of goals because we are not stable. At 3-0, the game was good for confidence, but once something happens, we have problems.”
City’s Fragile Form Raises Concerns Ahead of Liverpool Clash
With Liverpool already eight points clear at the top of the Premier League, Guardiola previously stated that an 11-point gap could be insurmountable for the reigning champions. City’s recent form—just two wins in five Champions League matches—leaves them in 15th place in the 36-team table, only one point ahead of Feyenoord.
Erling Haaland’s brace and Ilkay Gundogan’s deflected effort had put City in control, but Guardiola’s defensive substitutions seemingly backfired, exposing vulnerabilities that Feyenoord ruthlessly exploited. “We’ve lost a lot of games lately. We are fragile, and we need a victory,” Guardiola added.
Players Call for Mental Resilience
Defender Nathan Ake admitted the team must show greater mental strength. “At 3-0 up, we had the game under control, and it all changed,” said the Dutch international, who was substituted during the collapse. “We need to remain mentally strong. When you’re 3-0 up, and it ends this way, it feels like a defeat.”
The Road Ahead
Manchester City now face daunting away fixtures against Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain to secure their Champions League progress. Guardiola urged his players to regroup, saying, “Rest one or two days, clear the head mentally, and think of the next game.”
City’s Premier League title defense also hangs in the balance as they prepare for Sunday’s pivotal clash against Liverpool at Anfield.
