Manchester: Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola fears the dramatic collapse in the local derby could weigh on his players’ minds as they seek to overturn a 3-0 deficit against Liverpool in Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final second leg.
Needing a win to lift the title, City had one hand on the Premier League trophy after cruising to a 2-0 lead against Manchester United on Saturday but conceded three goals in a remarkable 16-minute second half spell to lose 3-2.
“It’s difficult for our mood not winning and, yeah, that can happen,” the Spaniard said. “But maybe we will improve for the future on that, to realise that sometimes it’s not enough what you’ve done to win games.
“I came here in the first half to try to do what we’ve done all season, but maybe it’s not enough to win at Champions League level or the Premier League.” City, who remain 13 points clear in the Premier League, have conceded six goals in their last two matches, with Liverpool scoring three in 19 minutes at Anfield in the first leg of their Champions League tie last Wednesday.
Similar lapses in concentration have cost Guardiola when he was in charge of Bayern Munich, with Real Madrid scoring three in 18 minutes in the second leg of a Champions League semi-final in 2014.
The German side also lost to Barcelona 3-0 in the first leg of the semi-final the following season, despite the game being goalless after 77 minutes.
“I thought many times about that ... I’ve dropped a lot of Champions League games in the space of 10 or 15 minutes,” Guardiola added.
“Maybe it’s my fault. I have to think about it. But I feel that when you dominate and create chances you are closer to winning games and I think this season showed that.”
Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum believes preparations carried out in training will help him adapt to a deep-lying role in Tuesday’s quarter-final against City.
As Emre Can sits out with a back injury and Jordan Henderson serves a suspension, Wijnaldum is expected to be flanked by James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain at the Etihad Stadium as Liverpool look to protect a 3-0 advantage.
The Dutchman was impressive in a holding role during Liverpool’s goalless Premier League draw at Everton on Saturday and Wijnaldum said he was prepared by manager Juergen Klopp for such situations.
“The manager was trying it in pre-season and he said it might happen in the season,” Wijnaldum told British media.
“He said at that time that it could happen that I will play in that position and he might look to do it in the future. Now that time has come.” Liverpool will need to be competitive in midfield to secure a semi-final spot but Wijnaldum expects the visitors to take the fight to Manchester City.
“We are not going to sit back. We are going to play our game. That is what we always do,” Wijnaldum added. “Of course we know that we are not already in the next round, we first have to play the game.”
