Pep Guardiola says Manchester City fans are ‘right to express what they feel’ after booing team following draw with Feyenoord
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Pep Guardiola has expressed understanding and support for Manchester City fans who booed his team following a 3-3 draw with Feyenoord in the Champions League on Tuesday. The draw extended City’s winless streak to six matches, coming just days after a demoralizing 4-0 defeat at home to Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.
Guardiola, speaking to Prime Sport after the game, acknowledged the growing frustration around the club, particularly in light of recent performances. “We’ve lost a lot of games lately and we’re fragile,” the manager said. “Of course, we need a victory, and the game was good for confidence, but I don’t know if it’s a mental issue or a technical one. The first goal cannot happen, and the second as well. After that, we were desperate to win and desperate to perform well.”
City had been in control, leading 3-0 with goals from Erling Haaland, who netted two goals, and İlkay Gündoğan, who scored after a deflection. However, the team’s collapse began in the 74th minute when Joško Gvardiol made a poor back-pass, which allowed Feyenoord’s Anis Hadj Moussa to score their first goal. Gvardiol’s teammate, Manuel Akanji, failed to properly close down the ball. A few minutes later, mistakes by goalkeeper Ederson allowed goals from Santiago Giménez and Dávid Hancko, leveling the score in the 89th minute.
City still had a chance to win the game, but Jack Grealish’s shot deflected off the post in the dying seconds. The disappointing result leaves City in 15th place in the new 36-team Champions League group phase, with the top eight teams automatically advancing to the round of 16. Teams finishing ninth through 24th will compete in a two-legged knockout tie for the remaining spots.
City’s collapse marks a historic low, as they became the first team in Champions League history to fail to win a match after leading by three goals in the 75th minute, as per Reuters. The full-time whistle was met with loud boos from the home crowd, but Guardiola understood the fans’ reaction. He pointed out that the supporters had also been patient after the heavy defeat to Tottenham, saying, “In the last game against Tottenham, 0-4, the supporters were there, they applauded. They are disappointed, of course, and we understand it. People come here not to remember the success of the past; they come here today to see the team win and perform well.”
Guardiola further added, “We are not the ones to tell the fans what they should do. They support us all the time – even when we travel, our fans are amazing. Of course, they are right to express what they feel.” The manager acknowledged the tough season ahead, noting the team’s defensive vulnerabilities, with 13 goals conceded in their last four games. This marks a stark contrast to the solid defense that had been a hallmark of City’s success in recent years, including their back-to-back Premier League titles and their first Champions League win.
City’s defensive struggles continue to be a major concern, especially as they prepare for another tough test. They face Premier League leaders Liverpool on Sunday, a match that could prove pivotal in their quest to regain form.
Elsewhere in the Champions League on Tuesday, Barcelona triumphed 3-0 against Brest, with Robert Lewandowski marking a historic milestone. The Polish striker scored a first-half penalty, becoming only the third player in Champions League history to reach 100 goals, joining Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Lewandowski added another goal in injury time to complete his brace. Dani Olmo also scored for Barcelona.
Paris Saint-Germain’s struggles continued as they were defeated 1-0 by Bayern Munich. Kim Min-jae scored the only goal of the match in the 38th minute, and PSG’s Ousmane Dembélé was shown a red card in the second half. The loss leaves PSG in 26th place in the standings, outside the qualification spots with just three matches remaining to salvage their campaign.
In other Champions League action, Atlético Madrid dominated Sparta Prague 6-0, while Inter Milan edged RB Leipzig 1-0. Bayer Leverkusen secured a 5-0 win over RB Salzburg, and Arsenal triumphed 5-1 over Sporting Clube de Portugal. Atalanta also claimed a resounding 6-1 victory against Young Boys.
As the competition continues, Manchester City’s performance will be closely watched, with Guardiola and his team hoping to recover from their recent setbacks and get back on track. The upcoming match against Liverpool will be crucial for both City’s morale and their aspirations for the rest of the season.
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