Pep Guardiola justifies Manchester City’s team selections following Champions League scrutiny.
Pep Guardiola has fervently defended his team selection after Manchester City’s loss to Real Madrid.
City suffered a 3-0 defeat in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 matchup at the Bernabeu on Wednesday, following Guardiola’s decision to field an attacking lineup.
The Spaniard has faced criticism in the past for “over-thinking” his tactics during crucial matches, but he asserts that reactions are often influenced by outcomes, and similar choices are frequently lauded when they yield positive results.
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Guardiola stated: “This is not the first time I’ve experienced disappointment. I’ve faced numerous defeats in the Champions League at various stages — many, many times — and have been heavily criticized for my decisions and the outcomes.
“My rationale for the team selection is based on the fact that we lost; we lost the match. However, if we had won, it would have been ‘genius.’ How often have I heard, ‘Pep is a genius’ regarding the team selection?
“Do I need to justify my choices before and after? After 10 years? I wouldn’t convince you for even a moment. Why? Because we lost, and that’s the bottom line — 3-0, thoroughly beaten.
“It’s a common occurrence. This isn’t my first time participating in the Champions League — I’ve been involved for 17 years — and every time I lose, boom, my God ‘peow, peow, peow’ [mimics gun shots to head].”
To emphasize his argument, Guardiola referenced the aftermath of City’s defeat in the 2021 Champions League final against Chelsea, where he opted not to start Fernandinho and Rodri. He compared that situation to the sentiment following last weekend’s FA Cup win at Newcastle, where he made 10 changes, raising some eyebrows.
He remarked: “I played a Champions League final without Fernandinho and Rodri as holding midfielders against Chelsea. I was heavily criticized at that time.
“They were justified, but at that moment, I understood how Rodri and Fernandinho were performing. It wasn’t the Rodri we saw later on.
“I can explain that, but will they be convinced? Forget it.
“What happened in Newcastle? Did you see the comments prior to the match regarding my team selection? ‘What are you doing? Lack of respect, how could you leave Erling [Haaland] at home?’ — 1-3.”
Guardiola stood by his strategy at the Bernabeu.
He explained: “After the match in Madrid, I mentioned there was a logical reason. I aimed for a threat. I wanted players to arrive at the goal, I wanted individuals to create [grunts] when we advanced with the wingers.
“We achieved that in the first 20 minutes. We were close.”
City will return to Premier League action on Saturday as they visit West Ham, aiming to maintain pressure on Arsenal in the title race.
Top scorer Haaland has netted only four goals in his last 17 matches.
Guardiola acknowledged: “Certainly, he needs goals. The team requires it, and he does too. We must find him more opportunities.”
