'Maybe It Was Too Much' – Guardiola Reflects on Costly Rotation After Shock Defeat to Leverkusen

Pep Guardiola’s 100th Champions League match in charge of Manchester City was meant to be a milestone worth celebrating. Instead, it became a night he would rather forget, as Bayer Leverkusen stunned the Etihad with a composed and courageous 2-0 win.

Guardiola’s decision to overhaul his starting XI with 10 changes proved decisive—and damaging. What was intended as a smart rotation for a heavy schedule ultimately left his side flat, disjointed, and unable to respond when it mattered most.

A Celebratory Night Turns Sour

Before kickoff, the talk centered on Guardiola joining Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsène Wenger as the only managers to lead an English club in 100 Champions League matches. But Leverkusen crashed the party with discipline, resilience, and an unshakeable belief despite arriving late to England due to travel complications.

City, meanwhile, played with hesitation, lacking decisiveness on the ball and rhythm in their movement. The rotated squad struggled to assert themselves, creating a performance that Guardiola openly admitted fell short.

“I have to accept it… maybe it was too much,” Guardiola told TNT Sports when questioned about the sweeping changes.
“They played not to make mistakes instead of doing what we had to do… I take full responsibility.”

A Gamble That Backfired

Guardiola has long trusted squad involvement over reliance on a core group, especially during packed fixture runs. But with big names like Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, and Rayan Cherki all benched at kickoff, Leverkusen sensed opportunity.

Even City staff were reportedly “shocked” by the extent of the rotation.

By the time the usual stars were introduced, the damage was already done. City lacked urgency and incision, while Leverkusen—missing several senior players themselves—held their shape and punished City at decisive moments.

Leverkusen’s Night to Remember

Alejandro Grimaldo’s thumping strike and Patrik Schick’s towering header sealed a historic victory, celebrated passionately in front of the travelling support—drummers, microphones, and all.

Danish head coach Kasper Hjulmand praised his team’s bravery:
“We played with courage and calm. This is a night to remember.”

Despite being without key starters, the German side showed unity, grit, and confidence.

Jarell Quansah summed up the camp’s emotions:
“It’s an unbelievable feeling… everyone showed character and determination.”

What This Means for City

City now head into a crucial showdown against Real Madrid on 10 December, needing a result to avoid deeper trouble in their Champions League campaign. With expectations high and criticism mounting, Guardiola faces renewed questions about rotation, squad balance, and momentum during a congested season.

Former City midfielder Michael Brown reflected what many fans felt:
“Win the game and then make the changes… there was an expectation it would be routine.”

Instead, City were left chasing shadows—and chasing points they can’t afford to drop.