MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 24: Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, reacts as he speaks to the media during a Manchester City Press Conference at Manchester City Football Academy on November 24, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images)

I take full responsibility for loss to Leverkusen: Man City Boss Pep Guardiola

Story By Citisports On November 26, 2025, 10:37 PM

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has blamed himself for the club’s shock 2-0 loss to Bayer Leverkusen in the UEFA Champions League.

The loss comes on the back of Man City losing 2-1 to Newcastle United in the English Premier League that indirectly played a role in Man City starting a very much changed line up in the encounter as English teams recorded a mixed bag of results on Tuesday, November 25.

Regular Man City starters Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku and Gianluigi Donnarumma were benched in the loss as Newcastle lost 2-1 to Olympique Marseille with City also losing though Chelsea recorded a big 3-0 win over FC Barcelona at Stamford Bridge.

“I take full responsibility, still I think the players that started were exceptional players but we missed something needed at the highest level. We now have to fight for the next games.”

Omar Marmoush of Manchester City and Jarell Quansah of Bayer 04 Leverkusen battle for the ball during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD5 match between Manchester City and Bayer 04 Leverkusen (Photo by Ryan Crockett/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images)

“On making 10 changes to the starting XI: “I have to accept it. If we win it wouldn’t be a problem so I have to accept it that maybe it’s a lot” Pep Guardiola said to TNT Sports.