Champions League: After the collapse of the city, Guardiola is under fire

After Real Madrid defeated Manchester City 3-2 at home, Pep Guardiola came under heavy fire. Erling Haaland opened the score early in the game, but City found it difficult to keep control.

Brahim Diaz and Jude Bellingham’s goals after Kylian Mbappé’s equalizer gave Madrid the victory. Guardiola, who was clearly irritated, acknowledged that he was powerless to stop these kinds of collapses, pointing out that they had occurred several times this season.

Pundits questioned several of his tactical decisions, such as starting Rico Lewis against Vinicius Jr. City’s lack of poise was attacked by former players like Wayne Rooney and Alan Shearer, and the English media emphasized the team’s seeming drop in confidence and passion.

England was not the only country to get criticism; Italy’s Gazzetta dello Sport implied that Guardiola and his team were going through a “nervous breakdown.” Many now question City’s capacity to overcome Madrid’s deficit, and even hopeful supporters are growing less hopeful. While Sky Sports questioned if Guardiola’s tactical choices had contributed to City’s difficulties, the Daily Mail waved away their prospects. Before the return leg at the Bernabéu, Guardiola has to find quick fixes to get his team’s battling spirit back on track since their dreams of winning the Champions League are barely hanging in the balance.