"Maybe it was too much" - Pep Guardiola places blame on himself after Manchester City's 2-0 loss to Bayer Leverkusen

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has taken the blame for their 2-0 loss to Bayer Leverkusen in the UEFA Champions League. He believes he made too many changes to the starting XI, adding that the players were too relaxed.

Speaking to the media after the match, Guardiola said the players were looking to avoid mistakes and were unwilling to take risks. He added that the substitutions were also doing the same and failed to make an impression. He said (via Manchester Evening News):

"Too many changes. I always had the belief of the long season and everyone had to be involved but maybe it was too much. Seeing the result, they played not to make mistakes instead of doing what we had to do. When you are not thinking to punish the team you are not relaxed - with or without the ball - and they are a really good team."

"It is what it is. I take responsibility but I saw them and I like everyone to be involved, when you are a football player and don't play for five, six, seven games it's tough but maybe it was too much. They tried to do it but when you are in a big team you have to show off. Everyone - the guys who came from the bench were the same."

Manchester City lost 2-0 to Bayer Leverkusen at home, with goals from Alejandro Grimaldo and Patrik Schick. They now sit 5th in the UEFA Champions League table and could slip outside the Top 8 after Wednesday's set of matches.

Pep Guardiola confident despite Manchester City's loss to Bayer Leverkusen

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has said he remains confident of a top-8 finish in the UEFA Champions League despite the slip-up. The Spaniard said he wants to focus on the upcoming Leeds United clash in the Premier League before thinking about the European games again and said:

"We are at home, in a good position in the Champions League, let's try and we have weapons on the bench in the second half. It didn't work and we have to accept it. Now it's Leeds and we have still three [Champions League] games and we will see what happens."

Manchester City slipped up in the Premier League last weekend, losing 2-1 at Newcastle United. The loss leaves them third in the table, seven points behind leaders Arsenal and one point behind second-placed Chelsea.