Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola delivered a brutally honest assessment of his squad following their second consecutive loss, questioning the team’s effort and attitude after a disappointing 0–2 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen at the Etihad Stadium.
City entered the mid-week clash after already falling to Newcastle United in the Premier League, with Guardiola opting to rotate heavily by making ten changes. However, the revised lineup struggled to produce momentum, ultimately conceding a surprising defeat to the Bundesliga side.
Guardiola reacted strongly after the match, explaining that the issue was not only tactical adjustments but a lack of intent from his players. He admitted that the performance, unlike the Newcastle game, fell short of his expectations due to both his decisions and the team’s inability to step up on the pitch.
The City boss emphasized that in football, effort is non-negotiable, and his squad failed to show the required drive. He noted that despite rotating to maintain fitness levels, he still believed deeply in his players’ abilities—even if they did not match his expectations during the match. The Spaniard called the result a valuable lesson for future decisions.
Manchester City now shift their focus to their upcoming Premier League match against Leeds United. Midfield anchor Rodri is still unavailable due to a hamstring injury that has sidelined him for eight of the last nine fixtures. While Leeds also arrive in poor form, Guardiola praised manager Daniel Farke and warned that the Premier League’s intensity leaves no room for complacency.