Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has clarified his ‘self-harm’ comments after Tuesday’s Champions League match
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has addressed his comments following his side’s 3-3 draw with Dutch side Feyenoord in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday night (26 November).
The 53-year-old football manager, who has been at the helm for the Cityzens since 2016, is currently undergoing the toughest spell of his managerial career.
Man City have failed to win in their last six games, losing five games in a row prior to last night’s home clash.
Guardiola had never lost four games in a row in his career, with the run compounded with a humiliating 4-0 home loss to Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League at the weekend.
The reigning champions haven’t won a game since 26 October (Carl Recine/Getty Images)
The bad run of form continued last night, as City became the first team ever in the history of the Champions League to be 3-0 up in the 75th minute and not win the game.
A comedy of errors in the last quarter of an hour cost the side their first win in over a month, leaving Guardiola frustrated and scratching his head on the touchline.
As he continued to scratch his head, lost for ideas, it seemed like the action left marks come the post-match interview and press conference.
The Spaniard appeared in front of the press with a bloody scratch on his nose and scratch marks across his head and when asked about it, he responded: “I want to harm myself…”
But now, he has clarified his comments on X, saying: “I was caught off guard with a question at the end of a press conference last night about a scratch which had appeared on my face and explained that a sharp fingernail had accidentally caused this.
“My answer was in no way intended to make light of the very serious issue of self harm.”
Guardiola has clarified that his comments were not meant to offend anyone (TNT Sports)
He continued: “I know that many people struggle with mental health issues every day, and I would like to take this moment to highlight one of the ways in people can seek help, by calling the Samaritans hotline on 116 123 or emailing jo@samaritans.org.”
Last night, City looked to be cruising to an easy 3-0 home win after Erling Haaland put away his second of the game in the 53rd minute, but the tides turned once Feyenoord winger Anis Hadj-Moussa capitalised on a poor Josko Gvardiol back pass to make it 3-1.
City goalkeeper Ederson then failed to deal with a header in the 82nd minute from Santiago Gimenez to make it 3-2.
Another Ederson howler followed, as he charged off his line in the 89th minute, which led to an empty net for David Hancko to tap into, as the Dutch side somehow took a point away from the game.
City face Premier League leaders Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday (1 December), who can go 11 points clear and extend City’s winless run to seven games.
