Manchester City boss Guardiola believes the loss is the entire team's responsibility

In the first leg of the 2024-25 Champions League play-offs, Manchester City lost 2-3 to Real Madrid. Coach Guardiola believed that the loss was the responsibility of the whole team and should not be targeted at any particular player.

Manchester City was leading 2-1, but Real Madrid overtook them and eventually Manchester City lost the game. In the press conference after the game, Guardiola said: "We took the lead in the last minute, but we couldn't hold on."

"We've been 2-1 up so many times. Whether it was against Feyenoord in the Champions League, against Brentford or Manchester United in the Premier League, we gave it away in the end. Unfortunately, it happens too often.

Although Manchester City players publicly reflected and admitted that it was their mistakes that led to the team's loss, Guardiola did not blame a specific player, but emphasized that the responsibility lies with the entire team. Guardiola said: "I can accept all criticism, but it is ridiculous to blame a certain player."

"This is the responsibility of all of us, myself first and foremost. Of course, the players are also responsible. They work very hard, whether they are running or fighting hard. Unfortunately, the reality is that we are not stable enough at critical moments."

Manchester City won the 2022-23 Champions League, and this season's Champions League adopted a new competition system, which prevented Manchester City from directly entering the round of 16. Now Manchester City has barely made it into the play-offs with a 22nd place, and the game will have two rounds.

However, Manchester City lost the first leg 2-3 to Real Madrid, which means that Manchester City must win the next leg to have a chance to enter the Champions League round of 16. The second leg of the play-off will be on February 20, when Manchester City will challenge Real Madrid away.