Manchester City suffered their first defeat in the Champions League this season on Tuesday, and Pep Guardiola is in the crosshairs of the fans.
Ahead of kick-off, Manchester City sat fourth in the League Phase table, having taken 10 points from a possible 12.
The game with Bayer Leverkusen has a chance for City to take a big stride towards automatic qualification for the knockout stages.
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But City fell to a 2-0 defeat at the Etihad Stadium.
It was the first time City lost to a German outfit at home in the Champions League since against Bayern Munich back in 2013, who were managed by Pep Guardiola at the time.
After the defeat to Newcastle United, it was important for City to bounce back.
But it’s now back-to-back defeats, and City fans couldn’t contain their frustrations last night on social media after what Guardiola did.
Man City fans criticise Pep Guardiola arrogance as Man City lose to Bayer Leverkusen
When City’s starting XI came through last night, fans could barely believe their eyes.
Guardiola made 10 changes to the side that lost to Newcastle, with only Josko Gvardiol keeping his place.
Some changes were expected due to the quick turnaround. But pretty much no one predicted an almost fully new team being fielded.
And City were made to pay for that team selection, with Leverkusen much the better side.
On social media, fans have been critical of Guardiola for his approach to the game, with some labelling him arrogant.
@Light_the_f1rst: “How do you start players that haven’t had that much playtime recently in a CL game? Zero progression between lines. I saw the lineup today and I knew it was over.”
@ChibuikemObioha: “We’re still trying to settle into our best starting XI, and then Pep goes and does something reckless starting a completely different lineup in such an important match. Who does he think he’s up against Luton Town?”
It’s not often Man City lose at home to a team from Germany
@harrlnd: “We deserved this loss Pep’s too arrogant.”
@mani434raju: “Self inflicted loss and this is on you being arrogant, Pep. We are defo not winning away at Real Madrid.”
@PaulDee9: “It was ridiculous from Pep and arrogant beyond belief. He is not regularly selecting these players because he doesn’t think they are better than other players. Then he throws them out all together and says get on with it. Astounding and negligent from Pep.”
@Lizblue57: “Pep needs to address his arrogant streak. It’s costing us.”
What Guardiola said about Man City team selection vs Bayer Leverkusen
The Manchester City manager is coming in for a lot of stick and understandably so following last night’s game.
It really was a strange thing to do to make that many changes, even with City sitting fairly pretty in the table.
As good a team as Leverkusen are, this was a chance to take another big step towards automatic qualification. Now, City face Real Madrid away in their next game.
After the game, Guardiola admitted he got his team selection wrong, and shared his Achilles heel of wanting to involve everyone.
Pep Guardiola held his hands up after Man City’s 2-0 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen
He said (via BBC Sport): “I always had the belief of the long season and everyone had to be involved but maybe it was too much. They played not to make mistakes instead of doing what we had to do.
“It was not the performance that we thought. I take full responsibility.
“Maybe with the players who played regularly lately, maybe we would have had confidence. I always like to be too nice and involve everyone because I have the feeling after the international break there are games every three or four days hopefully and there is no human being can sustain that.”
