VIDEO SHOWS: PRESS CONFERENCE COMMENTS FROM HEAD COACH, PEP GUARDIOLA, AFTER 2-0 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE LOSS AT HOME TO BAYER LEVERKUSEN / MATCH STILLS SHOWS: MANCHESTER, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (NOVEMBER 25, 2025) (UEFA – See restrictions) 1. (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANCHESTER CITY HEAD COACH, PEP GUARDIOLA, SAYING: "Yeah, too many changes. So… I would have said or I would have believed that in long seasons, (with matches) every two (or) three days, two days, three days, everybody has to be involved. But maybe it was too much seeing the result. I think they played to not make any mistakes instead of doing what you have to do. When you are thinking to avoid, you know, to not punish the team, you are not free, you are not relaxed. But not just with the ball. Without the ball we were close but not aggressive enough and they are a really, really good team. Congratulations, of course, Leverkusen. But yeah, it is what it is. I take absolutely full responsibility because I think I see them and I like everybody to be involved, to be a football player. When you are three, four, five, six seven games don't play, don't play, don't play, it’s, you know, tough. But yeah, maybe it was too much." MANCHESTER, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (NOVEMBER 25, 2025) (REUTERS – Access all) (MUTE) 2. STILL OF BAYER LEVERKUSEN'S ALEJANDRO GRIMALDO CELEBRATING SCORING THEIR SECOND 3. STILL OF GRIMALDO CELEBRATING WITH TEAMMATE, ALEIX GARCIA 4. STILL OF LEVERKUSEN CELEBRATING AFTER THE MATCH IN FRONT OF AWAY FANS MANCHESTER, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (NOVEMBER 25, 2025) (UEFA – See restrictions) 5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANCHESTER CITY HEAD COACH, PEP GUARDIOLA, SAYING: "I felt from my instinct, from my gut, the team is training good, there are incredible good vibes. So, let's go. Champions League at home. And you know, we are in good position and, you know, good air and everybody for the future to come, for the next games, you have here, you have Fulham, Sunderland, Madrid, a lot of games together. And they cannot play all the time, Erling (Haaland) 95 minutes. He’s really important for us, for his movement and goals, but it's too much. So, it's the first time in my life I've done it and it was too much. So, I realised." MANCHESTER, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (NOVEMBER 25, 2025) (REUTERS – Access all) (MUTE) 6. STILL OF MANCHESTER CITY'S ERLING HALAAND LOOKING DEJECTED 7. STILL OF GUARDIOLA REACTING ON THE SIDELINE 8. STILL OF MANCHESTER CITY'S NATHAN AKE LOOKING DEJECTED MANCHESTER, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (NOVEMBER 25, 2025) (UEFA – See restrictions) 9. (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANCHESTER CITY HEAD COACH, PEP GUARDIOLA, SAYING: "Always I like to be sometimes too nice and to involve everyone because I had the feeling, you know, we had international national break, you have four (or) five games and after the break, like it is right now, (matches every) three (or) four days, three (or) four days until March – hopefully you are not out of the FA Cup or Carabao (Cup). And there is no human being can sustain it for that (long). And I thought, okay, at home, we are in good position in the Champions League. Okay, let's go. Let's do it to try and often you have weapons on the bench. If something happens, can help in the second half. But honestly it didn’t work and I have to accept it." STORY: Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola shouldered the blame for his team's shock 2-0 Champions League defeat to Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday (November 25), conceding that his decision to overhaul the starting 11 was a massive misstep. The City boss made 10 changes from the weekend’s Premier League game, a 2-1 loss at Newcastle United, leaving out key figures such as striker Erling Haaland, who has 14 league goals this season. No other City player has more than one. He was quick to admit the gamble was excessive. "Yeah, too many changes," were the first words of Guardiola's post-match press conference. "I believed that in long seasons, (with matches) every two (or) three days, two days, three days, everybody has to be involved. But maybe it was too much seeing the result," he said. "So, it's the first time in my life I've done it and it was too much. So, I realised.” Guardiola defended his reasoning, pointing to the relentless schedule that includes domestic fixtures and international duty, particularly for Haaland, who shoulders the scoring load both for City and Norway. The Spaniard also suggested Tuesday's starters were feeling too much pressure. The loss ended City's 23-game unbeaten home run in the competition's group or league stage, and left them provisionally sixth in the table on 10 points after five games. The top eight after the eight games of the league phase automatically move on to the last 16. City's next Champions League game is at European giants Real Madrid on December 10. (Production: Lee Smith, Peter Powell, Conal Quinn)
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