Guardiola says he takes ‘full responsibility’ after much-changed Man City fall to Leverkusen in Champions League

Manager Pep Guardiola admitted he takes “full responsibility” after his Manchester City fell to a 2-0 defeat against Bayer Leverkusen at the Etihad to end their unbeaten start to this season’s Champions League.

Alejandro Grimaldo and Patrick Schick scored the goals as the Bundesliga club, who were efficient and effective on the counter, came out on top following a lacklustre performance from Guardiola’s men.

The City boss had made wholesale changes to the team that lost to Newcastle in the Premier League on Saturday, with Nico Gonzalez the only City player to keep his place in the team.

But it was a decision that seemed to backfire as, without the likes of top scorer Erling Haaland, who came off the bench in the second-half, Leverkusen became the first German club to win on City’s patch in more than a decade.

“Well, it was not the performance we thought,” Guardiola told TNT Sports.

“I take full responsibility, I still think they are exceptional players but we missed something that we needed in the high level. Now we have to fight for the next games.

“They [Leverkusen] were good, and did also very good things. We had chances, we had more than them, but half-chances, always with blocks or slips, always something there. We didn’t have the belief that it’s the moment to attack, the moment to defend. Sometimes it happens.”

City have now lost back to back games in all competitions and currently sit in sixth place in the Champions League table.

Asked whether he regretted making so many changes to the line-up, Guardiola said: “I understand your question. I have to accept it. If we win, it wouldn’t be a problem. I accept it maybe be a lot, but we are playing every two or three days.

“But seeing the result, maybe it’s too much.”

City are back at home on Saturday when they welcome Leeds United to the Etihad in the Premier League hoping to avoid a third defeat in a row.