Man City Manager Pep Guardiola Says Caution Cost City in Home Defeat Against Leverkusen

Pep Guardiola blamed a cautious approach for Manchester City’s surprise 2-0 loss to Bayer Leverkusen at the Etihad. He had made ten changes to his starting line‑up for the midweek match.

The defeat was City’s second in a row after their loss at Newcastle. Guardiola said his players did not take enough risks. He was direct: “We didn’t try. In football when you play on the green you have to try things and we didn’t try.”

He added that the team seemed focused on avoiding mistakes rather than creating chances: “I think they played not to make mistakes, not to play to do something, that is so difficult. In football you have to play offensive and you have to try, they played to be safe.” Guardiola suggested this reflected a lack of confidence among the chosen starters.

He defended their value as players, saying: “I have a lot of confidence in them, still right now I have a lot,” and “I have a huge value in what they are as football players, and that maybe is higher than (they have) themselves.”

City remain third in the Premier League, seven points behind leaders Arsenal. Midfielder Rodri is still absent ahead of Saturday’s game at struggling Leeds, but Guardiola said he expects Rodri to return soon.