Lack of patience after conceding an equalizer against the run of play made Manchester City fall apart in their 5-2 English Premier League home defeat by “defensive-minded” Leicester City, manager Pep Guardiola said on Sunday.
City dominated after former Leicester midfielder Riyad Mahrez gave them an early lead, but their game plan crumbled like a house of cards after Jamie Vardy netted a 37th-minute penalty.
“They didn’t want to play, they defended so deep and just wanted to counterattack,” Guardiola told the BBC after seeing a side he has managed concede five goals for the first time in his 686th game in charge. “They scored the first time they arrived and had three penalties in total, so it was very difficult for us. The lack of creating chances made us nervous and anxious.”
Photo: Reuters
With both strikers Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus out injured, City looked toothless, despite having the lion’s share of the possession.
At the other end, they looked like conceding every time Leicester came forward purposefully, with Vardy’s speed causing their defense all sorts of problems.
The striker won both penalties he converted either side of a classy back-heel finish, while James Maddison added a fourth with a superb shot and Youri Tielemans put the icing on the cake with a late penalty.
Guardiola rued his team’s lack of composure, but vowed to bounce back after City conceded five goals in the league at home for the first time since a 5-1 defeat by Arsenal in February 2003.
“It’s a tough result, but I am not going to give up. I am going to find solutions for the team to be stable,” he said. “We needed to be more patient. It is hard, but it is the second game of the season and we have to try to see what we need to do to avoid it from happening again,” he added. “I feel bad for the guys and for the club.”
Elsewhere, Tottenham Hotspur were held to a 1-1 draw at home when Newcastle United converted a penalty in stoppage-time, while West Ham United routed Wolverhampton Wanderers 4-0 at the London Stadium.
Additional reporting by staff writer
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