Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has delivered a startling assessment of his squad's mentality, suggesting he retains greater belief in their abilities than they do themselves.
A Lesson in Leverkusen
The City boss came under scrutiny after making ten changes for the midweek Champions League encounter against Bayer Leverkusen, which ended in defeat. Guardiola shouldered responsibility for the loss but pointed towards deeper confidence issues among players who failed to seize their opportunity.
"I had a lot of confidence in them and I still do," Guardiola stated. "I put huge value as to what they are as football players. Maybe I think higher of them than they think about themselves."
He described the experience as a "good lesson" for his own managerial approach, despite his vast experience. Guardiola accused the selected players of playing it too safe, effectively hiding on the pitch rather than expressing themselves.
Playing Safe and the Premier League Pressure
"I'm pretty sure that they, surrounded by other players, will play good," Guardiola said. "I think they played not to make mistakes, not to play to do something. In football, you have to play defensive and offensive and you have to try. They played to be safe, to not make mistakes and that's why it's so difficult."
This introspection comes at a critical juncture for the club. The defeat to Leverkusen followed a Premier League loss at Newcastle United last weekend, creating a minor slump. The situation is compounded in the league, where City now trail leaders Arsenal by seven points.
The pressure mounts further with Saturday's home fixture against Leeds United, for which key midfielder Rodri remains unavailable due to a hamstring injury. The Spaniard has featured for just one minute since the start of October.
The Road Ahead for City
Guardiola acknowledged the challenge ahead, emphasising the importance of performance over a single result. "We know the competitions are tough. It is not about one result, it is in the performance," he added.
While he expressed less disappointment about the Newcastle defeat, the Leverkusen result clearly stung. "Leverkusen yes, because of my decisions and because we didn't try, it's as simple as that," Guardiola conceded.
With the gap to Arsenal already significant, Guardiola knows his team must improve rapidly. "I know the difference is already there and Arsenal are so strong. You start to see how you are getting better as a team and we will see," he concluded, setting the stage for a crucial response against Leeds.
