There are methods to deliver up a century. This was scarcely probably the most becoming. ’s a centesimal recreation accountable for ranked as one of many worst. And for that, he actually solely has himself in charge.
Metropolis had been crushed by managerial complacency and their very own lacklustre show in addition to by a moderately spectacular facet. Because the groups third within the Premier League and the Bundesliga met, Guardiola picked his second-string facet. They got here off second finest. It was a chance that backfired, and one which felt all of the odder as their subsequent fixture is in opposition to out-of-form Leeds. Did he actually relaxation his regulars only for a relegation-threatened group? As a result of the results of a shock setback might contain a spot within the knockout play-off spherical that Metropolis had seemed heading in the right direction to bypass.
Guardiola was punished after making wholesale adjustments (AP)
It’s now back-to-back defeats for Metropolis, . It might be consecutive losses within the Champions League, given their subsequent recreation is away in opposition to Actual Madrid. All of the sudden, this part is trying much less of a procession for them. For Leverkusen, who struck clinically by means of Alejandro Grimaldo and Patrick Schick, it was additional proof of the transformative affect supervisor Kasper Hjulmand has had after Erik ten Hag’s transient reign was .
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If the previous Manchester United supervisor’s appointment was a mistake by Leverkusen, this Metropolis choice was by Guardiola. If the intention was to show Metropolis weren’t a one-man group, it delivered exactly the incorrect impression. His understudies had been underwhelming. None grasped the chance. Guardiola, a three-time Bundesliga winner, appeared responsible of underestimating current German champions.
He might have been lured right into a false sense of safety by Metropolis’s begin to the competitors, with 10 factors banked already. Or by a document of 23 group-stage video games with out defeat on the Etihad Stadium. But Leverkusen as a substitute turned the successors to the 2018 Lyon facet.
Guardiola had made 10 adjustments with solely Nico Gonzalez retaining his place, and even he wouldn’t be a primary alternative if Rodri had been match. There was no Gianluigi Donnarumma, no Erling Haaland. Not initially, anyway.
As a result of Guardiola was pressured to summon Phil Foden, Jeremy Doku and Nico O’Reilly at half-time, changing the ineffective trio of Rico Lewis, Oscar Bobb and Rayan Ait-Nouri. After one other 20 minutes, Haaland and Rayan Cherki got here on. Omar Marmoush, prolific in opposition to German golf equipment for Eintracht Frankfurt, made scant affect in opposition to Leverkusen and made method for Haaland.
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Enter the large man, a uncommon night time off curtailed by the state of emergency. He had scored in each Champions League recreation this season. He nearly prolonged the run after a move by Foden, Mark Flekken making a positive save. The previous Brentford goalkeeper made one other from Cherki’s free kick. The substitutes no less than made a distinction. The starters had left them an excessive amount of to do.
Flekken was wonderful and but, for a lot of the primary half, a spectator. Guardiola named a beginning 11 that value in extra of £350m however there was a flatness to Metropolis. Flekken made a positive close-range save from Nathan Ake. That aside, Guardiola’s reserves common too little of observe within the opening 43 minutes. Then Gonzalez received the ball, Tijjani Reijnders burst ahead and Flekken parried, a Dutchman once more denying one other. In any other case, that sense of nothingness earlier than the interval had prompted Guardiola to show to his bench. Or maybe it was the actual fact Leverkusen already led.
Alex Grimaldo thumped within the opener for Leverkusen (AP)
Teed up by Christian Kofane, Grimaldo arrowed a shot previous the Champions League debutant James Trafford. It was an eighth purpose of the season from left wing-back for the Spaniard, a exceptional return from one among Xabi Alonso’s most interesting signings. Many of the talismanic figures from the 2024 group who received Leverkusen’s maiden Bundesliga title have left. Not Grimaldo. Captaining them within the absence of the suspended Robert Andrich, he additionally performed a component within the second purpose.
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Schick nipped in forward of Ake to satisfy Ibrahim Maza’s cross with a glancing header. For him, too, it was an eighth purpose of the marketing campaign.
Patrick Schick scored the second in entrance of the Leverkusen followers (Nick Potts/PA Wire)
And if Leverkusen proved it’s potential for a group enjoying 3-4-3 to win in Manchester this week, an injury-hit facet additionally defended with nice organisation. It was really notable how few alarms that they had, how a lot management they exerted. Their Champions League marketing campaign started by going three video games and not using a win, culminating in a 7-2 thrashing by Paris Saint-Germain.
But if Metropolis promised to be the opposite hardest opponents they confronted, this was a spectacular scoreline for a really completely different cause. Metropolis should not used to nights like this. Neither is Guardiola. However whereas his group obtained it incorrect, so did he.