MANCHESTER, England — The less prominent members of Manchester City’s squad have been inactive lately, and after a 2-0 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen in the UEFA Champions League, it might be a long wait before manager Josep Guardiola calls on them again.
Following Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Newcastle United, Guardiola opted for 10 lineup changes. While he claimed he would have scored 11 goals, only Nico González kept his spot as Rodri was still unavailable.
This gamble backfired. With stars like Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, and Gianluigi Donnarumma sitting on the bench, the Bundesliga side seized the opportunity to score first and led 1-0 at halftime.
– Estevao leads Chelsea to victory over Barça in the Champions League, proving the team’s abilities
– Can Slott prevent Liverpool from being the Premier League’s weakest defending champions?
– Champions League recap: Chelsea triumphs over Barça, Leverkusen dominates City
Guardiola made early substitutions at halftime, bringing in regulars Foden, Jeremy Doku, and Nico O’Reilly for Rayan Ait Nouri, Oscar Bobb, and Rico Luiz. Even with Haaland’s entry in the second half, City couldn’t contain Leverkusen, who scored again, marking City’s first home loss in the Champions League group stage or league phase since 2018.
“There were too many changes,” Guardiola commented post-match.
“Perhaps we overstepped in focusing on the result. I take full responsibility. I want everyone to contribute, and it’s challenging when they don’t play, but maybe we took it too far.”
“I sometimes aim to be accommodating and include everyone. It didn’t pan out as expected, and I must accept that.”
Guardiola’s sweeping changes raised eyebrows. A victory against Leverkusen, who had been soundly beaten by Paris Saint-Germain earlier in the season, would have alleviated some pressure before their upcoming match against Real Madrid. To secure a top-eight finish and advance to the last 16, City requires wins against Bodo/Glimt and Galatasaray in January.
In hindsight, it seems Guardiola might have done better to field a stronger team against Leverkusen and save the changes for their Premier League match against Leeds United this weekend. The players who faced Leverkusen will likely struggle to retain their spots when league action resumes. Ait Nouri, who started only his second match since August, looked off the pace early on.
Leverkusen’s first goal came from a cross from their half, with Alejandro Grimaldo slipping it through Abdukkodir Kusanov’s legs to score. Kusanov has played in only one other match in the last two months. Ait Nouri, signed for £31 million from Wolves last summer, was one of three players substituted at halftime. The substitution did little to improve City’s display as Patrik Schick scored Leverkusen’s second goal shortly after the break.
Haaland, who came on in the 65th minute, had City’s best chance of the evening, but his shot was saved by Mark Frecken, allowing the Germans to secure their first Champions League victory in England since defeating Tottenham in 2016.
England’s Jarrell Quansah, speaking after the match, seemed relieved to have only had to mark Haaland for 25 minutes.
“They possess world-class quality. Many of the players who started are international stars,” the former Liverpool player stated. “It’s always challenging when they (Haaland and Foden) come on. It feels phenomenal because we had many key players missing tonight. We needed that kind of character, determination, and grit.”
When asked if Guardiola had perhaps underestimated Leverkusen, manager Kasper Hjurmand replied, “You shouldn’t ask me that. Leverkusen is a quality side, regardless of who they field.”
This loss places City sixth in the league phase table with 10 points from five matches. Guardiola is acutely aware of the risks if City drops out of the top eight after finishing 22nd last season and drawing Real Madrid in the playoff round. He will be keen to avoid a repeat of that scenario.
Aston Villa secured eighth place last season with 16 points, so City’s destiny largely rests in their hands. However, Guardiola needs to select the right team for their match against Leeds to avert a third consecutive defeat.
“It’s Leeds now,” he remarked. “There are still three league games left, so we’ll see what happens. The future is unpredictable. We must regroup and prepare for Leeds.”
With fringe players failing to make their mark against Leverkusen, Guardiola will be eager to reintegrate his top players at the earliest opportunity.
Fan Take: This news is significant for soccer fans because it highlights the unpredictable nature of team dynamics and the risks of heavy rotation in crucial matches. As Manchester City seeks to recover, the stakes are particularly high with their upcoming derby against Leeds, which could define their season trajectory.
