Pep Guardiola has said he did not intend to “make light of the very serious issue of self-harm” when he answered a question relating to a cut he made on his nose during Manchester City’s 3-3 draw with Feyenoord.
Guardiola was asked about the cut after City threw away a three-goal lead in Tuesday’s Champions League tie and said: “From my finger … with my nail. I want to harm myself.” He then laughed and got out of his chair to leave the press conference.
On Wednesday the manager posted a statement on social media. “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,” he said. “My answer was in no way intended to make light of the very serious issue of self-harm.
“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 which people can seek help, by calling the Samaritans hotline on 116 123 or emailing jo@samaritans.org.”
City’s collapse against Feyenoord after they led 3-0 in the 73rd minute followed a five-game losing run and prompted a baffled Ilkay Gündogan to describe the team’s form as “inexplicable”.
An Erling Haaland double and a Gündogan goal put Guardiola’s team in firm control. But two passing errors from Josko Gvardiol and an ill-judged rush out by Ederson allowed Anis Hadj Moussa, Santiago Giménez and David Hancko to score for the visitors and salvage a draw, the equaliser coming a minute from the end of regulation time.
Gündogan said: “The goals we conceded I think are inexplicable, in terms of the way we conceded them. There is only ourselves to blame. The situation, I don’t know, the way things are going right now, it is a bit inexplicable.
“Sometimes you will struggle in some games, no matter who the opponent is. Even when you play at home against a side you should dominate, you will concede chances because every team is good enough right now to create something. But then 75 minutes, 3-0 up and controlling the game, then ugh, giving it away so easily. They also were ruthless. It is probably more us to blame but they just punished us in every situation they got, scoring three goals. Obviously it is very tough to take.”
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City are 15th in the 36-team Champions League table on eight points, with three games remaining for them but half the sides playing a game in hand on Wednesday night. Finishing in the top eight guarantees a last-16 berth and the next 16 teams go into playoffs.
Guardiola’s side travel to Liverpool on Sunday in the Premier League conscious that, if they lose, Arne Slot’s leaders will pull 11 points ahead of them.
