Pep Guardiola addressed the visible injuries on his face and head following Manchester City’s dramatic 3-3 draw with Feyenoord in the Champions League at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night. Guardiola was seen with a cut on his nose and red marks on his head, which sparked questions about their cause.
After the match, Guardiola jokingly explained, “It’s my finger, with my nail,” referring to how the injuries happened. His comments came after a tense game in which City squandered a 3-0 lead, extending their winless streak to six matches and continuing a poor run of form that includes five consecutive losses—a first since 2006.
This represents the toughest period of Guardiola’s managerial career, as he’s never experienced more than three consecutive defeats during his time at Manchester City, Bayern Munich, or Barcelona.
The draw has placed additional pressure on City ahead of their upcoming match against league leaders Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday, as the Premier League champions look to end their slump against a strong opponent.
Guardiola acknowledged his team’s vulnerabilities in the game, especially after defensive errors allowed Feyenoord to make a late comeback.
Despite two goals from Erling Haaland and one from Ilkay Gundogan, City allowed Anis Hadj Moussa, Santiago Gimenez, and David Hancko to score for Feyenoord, much to the delight of their 5,000 traveling supporters, while some City fans responded with boos at full-time.
Guardiola empathized with the frustration of the fans, saying, “In the last game against Tottenham, when it was 0-4, the supporters applauded us.
They are disappointed now, and we understand that. Fans come to see us win and perform well. Their support is incredible, and they have every right to express their feelings.”
Despite Josko Gvardiol’s mistakes, Guardiola defended the young Croatian, praising his talent and character. “He is so young and will learn from this experience,” Guardiola said.
“Tonight, he was the best player on the pitch. Blaming him would be wrong. He’s a fantastic player and person, and now more than ever, he needs our support.”
