Pep Guardiola Admits Manchester City Look “Fragile” After Shocking Feyenoord Collapse
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola described his team as “fragile” after their stunning inability to hold a 3-0 lead against Feyenoord in the Champions League, eventually settling for a 3-3 draw. The result extended City’s winless streak to six games across all competitions, raising serious concerns ahead of their crucial Premier League clash against Liverpool.
A Defensive Meltdown and a Stunned Crowd
Despite a commanding 3-0 lead by the 53rd minute—courtesy of two goals from Erling Haaland and a deflected volley from Ilkay Gundogan—City capitulated in the final 15 minutes. Goals from Anis Hadj Moussa, Santiago Gimenez, and David Hancko exploited City’s defensive errors, leaving fans at the Etihad Stadium stunned and jeering at full-time.
Speaking on the implosion, Guardiola said, “The game was fine at 3-0, playing good, but then we concede a lot of goals because we were not stable. We gave them the first and then the other one, that is why it was difficult.”
Shearer Calls City “Weak” and “Frail”
Former England captain Alan Shearer, analyzing the game for Amazon Prime, did not hold back in his critique of City’s mental and defensive lapses. He remarked, “They look weak, they look light, they look frail. Even with two minutes to go and 3-2 up, they take a quick free-kick. Why? Kill the game. They were in such a comfortable position.”
City have now conceded two or more goals in six consecutive games for the first time since 1963.
Individual Errors Under the Spotlight
City’s defensive struggles were glaring, with £77m signing Josko Gvardiol at the heart of two costly mistakes. A misjudged backpass led to Feyenoord’s first goal, and a second error saw him lose possession in the build-up to their equalizer.
Former England winger Andros Townsend criticized the team, saying, “We have never seen defensive frailties like this from Manchester City before. It seems to be popping up in every single game they’ve played recently.”
Meanwhile, ex-City defender Gael Clichy pointed to a lack of leadership on the pitch, stating, “They are missing a vocal leader. A strong leader at the back.”
Guardiola Defends Gvardiol
Despite the criticism, Guardiola stood by Gvardiol, asserting, “He was the best player on the pitch, but I will be so wrong if I point a specific thing at him. He is a fantastic player, fantastic boy, and more than ever must be helped.”
A Season on the Brink
City’s failure to win leaves them sitting in 15th place in the Champions League standings, outside the automatic qualification spots for the knockout rounds. Guardiola’s men now face tough group-stage matches against Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain before hosting Club Brugge.
“If we are not able to win games like we did today, it is difficult to do it,” Guardiola admitted.
Crunch Time Against Liverpool
City’s next test comes against Premier League leaders Liverpool at Anfield. With an 11-point gap looming if they lose, Sunday’s game could be pivotal for City’s domestic hopes.
“The situation is what it is,” Guardiola said. “We have to recover and prepare for the next game.”
As pressure mounts, City will need to find answers fast to avoid further setbacks in what is shaping up to be one of their most challenging seasons under Guardiola.
