Pep Guardiola rues Claudio Bravo costly error on Barcelona return - 7M sport

Pep Guardiola rues Claudio Bravo costly error on Barcelona return



Posted Thursday, October 20, 2016 by Skysports.com

Pep Guardiola rues Claudio Bravo costly error on Barcelona return
Pep Guardiola reacts after Claudio Bravo's red card

Pep Guardiola highlighted Claudio Bravo's dismissal as the turning point in Manchester City's humbling on his return to Barcelona.

Trailing to Lionel Messi's opener, Chile international Bravo was shown a straight red card for deliberately handballing Luis Suarez's goal-bound shot, handing Barca the initiative in a game in which they had failed to hit the heights.

City continued to be architects of their own downfall as Messi punished errors to complete his hat-trick, before Neymar sealed the victory late on.

"It always difficult to play against Barcelona with 11 players so with 10 the game was over," Guardiola conceded in his post-match press conference. "Until then the game was open.

"The last time I was here [with Bayern] we controlled the game but didn't create any chances, today we created enough.

"We arrived at their by-line many times and we created enough chances to score one or two goals. When Barcelona's strikers arrive they punish you because they have a lot of quality but, with exception to the goal (Messi's first), we were in control.

Pep Guardiola rues Claudio Bravo costly error on Barcelona return
Claudio Bravo of Manchester City handles the shot from Luis Suarez of Barcelona outside of his area

"We have given opponents a lot; the start in Glasgow, the own goal at White Hart Lane and missed penalties [against Everton].

"But it's only October, we've lost a game, it's not quarter-finals so in two weeks we have one more game and, of course, we will have to win two games from three to quality for the last 16.

"We knew the group would be tough and now have to analyse what happened and rest for the next game against Southampton."

Asked whether Wednesday's defeat was the worst defeat of his career, the City boss added: "No. [The worst] was at Real Madrid when I was at Bayern Munich. In that moment I didn't make the correct decisions.

"We lost 4-0 so yes, it is bad, but not given the club's situation. We are a new club, we are in the process of getting to know each other and we are a club who weren't in Europe for 35 years.

"We came here and played with huge personality, with good high pressing and dealt with long balls to Luis Suarez and Neymar, which is not easy.

Pep Guardiola rues Claudio Bravo costly error on Barcelona return
Messi (C) scores his second goal against Man City

"We kept the ball, we created clear chances and they scored through Fernandinho's slip. We started the second half really well and created chances with Kevin De Bruyne.

"Of course after that we played 10 against 11 against Barcelona and were soon 2-0 down."

City were left to rue a host of missed chances on a night where Barcelona were not at their scintillating best.

For the second game running, City were without talisman Sergio Aguero as Guardiola named the Argentine on the bench, a decision he revealed he made consciously.

"It was my decision [not to start Aguero]," Guardiola said. "He was OK (not injured).

"I wanted more players in that position and that was the reason why."



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