The 2023 European champions, Manchester City, faced a humiliating setback as they squandered a two-goal lead in a crushing 4-2 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.
This disappointing result leaves Pep Guardiola’s side on the brink of elimination from the Champions League group stages. If City fails to secure a victory against Club Brugge—currently ranked 25th in the 36-team standings—they risk an early exit from the competition.
Reflecting on the defeat, Guardiola admitted that his team struggled to match the intensity of Luis Enrique’s PSG, particularly in a hostile atmosphere. “They had better intensity to win duels, and we suffered,” Guardiola acknowledged. “We struggle against the big teams and on the big stages. We must accept this reality. This is our last chance to beat Bruges, and if we fail, it’s because we don’t deserve it.”
City’s struggles this season have been marked by a worrying trend of losing leads. So far, they have dropped points in nine matches where they initially led—more than any other Premier League team. In Europe, they have surrendered advantages in three of their last four games, further highlighting their defensive vulnerabilities.
Guardiola attributed these recurring issues to a lack of control in midfield, explaining that his team often looks uneasy after conceding a goal. “We can’t play well unless we defend with the ball,” he said. “The extra pass, keeping possession—that’s what we’re missing.
The connection between Bernardo Silva and Mateo Kovacic was either poor or non-existent, and that made it difficult to maintain control. I tried different solutions, but we couldn’t hold onto the ball.”
Adding to City’s woes, defender Ruben Dias was forced off at halftime due to an injury, leaving the club anxiously awaiting an update ahead of their upcoming Premier League clash against Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium.
Jack Grealish, who scored the opening goal against PSG, echoed his manager’s sentiments. He admitted that City’s precarious position in the competition is partly due to disappointing home draws with Feyenoord and Inter Milan. “We’ve been ahead by one, two, or even three goals too many times this season, but we haven’t been able to maintain control and finish the game,” Grealish said.
The England international also expressed confusion over the team’s uncharacteristic struggles this season. “It’s strange because we’ve managed these situations so well in previous years. Maybe it’s a confidence issue.
But it’s up to us to change that. We have the quality to hold onto leads, but we haven’t been doing that, and it’s on us to fix it.”
