OGUN, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-The Man city draw against Feyenoord made Pep Guardiola fumes up calling his team fragile and weak after squandering a 3-0 lead at Eithad Stadium.
Instead of heading to Liverpool on the back of a morale-boosting win, the defending Premier League champions face their title rivals at Anfield on Sunday with more questions about their defending after having to settle for a 3-3 draw.
City have now conceded two or more goals in six successive matches in all competitions for the first time since May 1963.
Not only that, but they seem to have forgotten how to win – even from the most commanding positions.
When Erling Haaland slid in to put them 3-0 up in the 53rd minute against Feyenoord, the hosts looked well on course to return to winning ways after five straight defeats.
Yet the 2023 European Cup winners inexplicably managed to throw away two points and were booed off the pitch at full time.
“They look weak, they look light, they look frail,” said former England captain Alan Shearer, who was at Etihad Stadium for Amazon Prime.
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“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.”
Guardiola Speaks
“I don’t know if it is a mental thing,” said Guardiola, who became so frustrated with his side’s performance that he scratched his own face.
“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.
“The situation is what it is. We played a good game but at that level we can’t give them away.”
City have work to do if they are to avoid an unwanted two-legged play-off in February to progress to the last 16.
They have to finish in the top eight to earn an automatic passage into the knockout stage but sit 15th after Tuesday’s game. They could fall even lower after Wednesday’s matches.
City face two testing games at Juventus on 11 December and Paris St-Germain on 22 January next in the competition before hosting Club Brugge on 29 January.
“Right now I am not ready to think about that [needing to win their final three games to finish top eight],” added Guardiola.
“We have to recover and prepare for the next game. If we are not able to win games like we did today it is difficult to do it.” He Concluded.
