Pep Guardiola has admitted he got his team selection wrong in defeat against Real Madrid in midweek, but the Manchester City boss stood by the decision to field the side that lost 3-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu.
A Federico Valverde hat-trick was enough to put Los Blancos into a commanding position in their Champions League round of 16 tie ahead of next week’s trip to the Etihad.
Before that, City will have to turn their attention back to the Premier League as they take on relegation-threatened West Ham. Guardiola’s side could go into the game 10 points behind league leaders Arsenal should they beat Everton in the 5.30pm kick-off.
While Guardiola made no bones about the fact that he will have to rotate his squad, he was quick to jump to the defence of his selection in the Spanish capital.
“We won or we lost in Madrid? [We lost, so] It’s a bad selection,” the City boss said in his pre-match press conference.
“We won or we lost in Newcastle? We won so the selection was good.
“I think all the time that we were taking decisions and in the Carabao Cup, FA Cup, I think a lot about what is the best for the team [with my selection].
“Of course, we cannot play the same XI every three days. That is not going to happen. The amount of Premier Leagues we’ve won in the last few years is not important in every single game.
“I have an opinion about the game in Madrid. Completely an opinion. Mistakes with my own decisions, own opinions. Not about what’s happened, the results, or whatever. I have my opinion.
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Pep Guardiola admitted Manchester City struggled to control Real Madrid’s transitions immediately after the defeat
“In the first half especially, the first 20 minutes before the first goal, we were exceptional. I would say one of the best we have played there. In terms of, we come here to be a threat and we were threatening. But after that, the emotions come and we concede one goal immediately.
“Some mistakes we make. And after, the emotions are involved and it’s a completely different game. But even in the second half, we started really well. We conceded a penalty that, I’m sorry, it was not.
“We have the clear chances. We were there in that way.
“It’s not the first time it’s been hard. I’ve lost many times in the Champions League.
“I’ve been massacred about my decisions. I can argue why I decided on the team selection. I will not convince you, because we lost. Because this argument is before the game.”
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The Soccer Special pundit, Michael Brown, says Real Madrid punished Pep Guardiola’s adventurous set-up in a disappointing Champions League night.
‘Other leagues are good too’ Guardiola on why English teams struggled in Europe
It wasn’t only Guardiola’s side that struggled in European competition. Only Aston Villa managed to pick up a win of the nine Premier League clubs competing across the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League.
The City boss believes this is an indication that the English top flight is not as dominant as it once was and that teams from other parts of Europe are just as prepared to compete at the highest level.
“Before I said we were the best league in the world. After what happened in midweek, we are not,” he added.
“We are an incredible league. But in this competition, it’s for one game, not two games. Everything can happen. And that means other leagues, they are good, too.
“So, now everybody doubts Bodo/Glimt, right? No one does. Top team. The competition is tough. Everyone is well prepared.”
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