Pep Guardiola and Ilkay Gundogan clash over Manchester City's 2-0 defeat to Juventus in the Champions League. Gundogan criticized the team for overcomplicating play, while Guardiola defended their performance. City faces a tough road to qualification, sitting 22nd in the standings with two crucial matches ahead.
Pep Guardiola and Ilkay Gundogan found themselves at odds following Manchester City's 2-0 defeat to Juventus in the Champions League. Gundogan, speaking candidly after the match, expressed disappointment with the team's approach, stating that they had been "overcomplicating things."
He explained that this caused City to lose possession and allow Juventus dangerous counterattacks. Gundogan emphasized the need for the team to play simpler football and avoid unnecessary mistakes.
Guardiola, however, seemed surprised by Gundogan’s remarks when informed about them during a post-match interview.
The City manager disagreed with his player’s assessment, defending his team’s performance. Guardiola argued that, despite the result, City had improved in terms of ball retention and had fewer turnovers than in previous games. He acknowledged the difficulty of facing a defensively disciplined team like Juventus but maintained that his side had still played their usual style, despite the disappointing result.
The loss leaves Manchester City in a precarious position in the Champions League. Sitting 22nd in the group standings, Guardiola’s side risks missing out on automatic qualification for the knockout stages.
With two crucial matches remaining, City must secure strong performances against Paris Saint-Germain and Club Brugge to stay in contention for the play-offs.
