Pep Guardiola Urged to Make Ruthless Man City Decision After Leverkusen Loss

Nobody expected the night to end with Manchester City fans shouting in frustration, but that is exactly what happened when Bayer Leverkusen came to the Etihad Stadium and walked away with a 2-0 victory that shocked the Champions League world. It was supposed to be a celebration, a special memory, because this match was Pep Guardiola’s 100th Champions League game in charge of Manchester City. A milestone that deserved joy, fireworks, music and victory. But instead, it became a night full of disappointment, anger, pain, and confusion. A night that left the blue half of Manchester struggling to understand how their European kings could look so powerless in front of their own fans.

The tension before the match was electric. People were talking about City bouncing back after the painful Premier League loss to Newcastle. Everyone expected a response. Everybody thought Pep Guardiola would use his 100th Champions League match to show the world why Manchester City are giants. The stadium was full, players walked out with loud cheers around them, and the fans believed they were about to witness a statement performance. But from the first minute, something felt wrong. The rhythm was slow, the intensity was missing, the confidence was not there. City looked like a team playing with heavy legs and heavy minds.

Pep Guardiola made ten changes to the squad that lost to Newcastle. Only Nico Gonzalez kept his place. The idea was to refresh the team, to rotate, to give opportunities, but sometimes football punishes good intentions. City looked like a group of talented strangers who were trying to understand each other instead of a team that knew exactly what to do. Leverkusen, on the other hand, came into the match full of confidence, full of speed, full of belief. They pressed, they countered, they fought with hunger. You could see in their faces that they came to Manchester with no fear.

The first goal shocked the stadium like thunder. It was the 23rd minute when Christian Kofane led a counterattack that cut City open like a blade. He looked up and found Leverkusen captain Alejandro Grimaldo sprinting into the box. With one beautiful left-foot touch, Grimaldo blasted the ball past James Trafford. The net shook. The away section exploded. And the Etihad fell silent. 1–0 to Bayer Leverkusen. You could see the frustration on the faces of Manchester City players, and you could hear the anxiety in the voices of the crowd. They expected City to wake up after that moment. But instead, City continued to struggle like they were stuck in a nightmare.

Passes were going backwards, not forward. Attacks were slow and predictable. Leverkusen kept breaking with danger every time they got the ball. The crowd waited for something special, for someone to step up. But there was no magic, no spark, no moment of brilliance. Pep Guardiola was shouting on the touchline, trying to push his players to find the fire, but nothing changed. It was painful to watch because City fans are used to brilliance, control, and power. But tonight, they saw confusion, stress, and weakness.

The second half started, and before City could recover, the enemy struck again. In the 54th minute, Ibrahima Maza sent a deadly cross into the box, and Patrick Schick rose higher than everyone and flicked the ball into the corner of the net. 2–0. Leverkusen players ran to celebrate together, their bench jumping up like they had just won a trophy. City players walked slowly back to the center circle with their heads down. The fans put their hands on their faces. The stadium was in shock. Nobody could believe what they were seeing.

Pep Guardiola turned to the bench and sent on Erling Haaland with 30 minutes left. The fans screamed loudly, believing the game could still be saved. Haaland threw his arms up, calling for energy, calling for faith. But even the Norwegian warrior could not turn the night around. He tried to run, he tried to fight, he tried to push the team forward, but the supply was not there. He barely touched the ball. Leverkusen had control. They were not scared. They were not defending like a small team hoping to survive. They were defending with intelligence and attacking with bravery, and every attack looked like danger.

After the match, everybody agreed that only a few City players deserved any praise. Most of them were far below their usual level. But nobody received more criticism than Savinho. Pep Guardiola gave him the full 90 minutes, and the Brazilian winger played the entire match, but he offered nothing that could hurt Leverkusen. No assists, no dangerous crosses, no goals, no spark, no moment that made the fans cheer. He dribbled with no end product, passed backwards too many times, lost the ball in important moments, and could not get past his opponent. Fans were furious.

When the final whistle blew, the stadium was filled with disappointment and anger. Some fans booed. Some left early. Some put their hands on their heads in disbelief. It was not the kind of night anyone expected. And when people got home, social media caught fire immediately. The anger was not only about losing. The anger was about the performance and especially the performance of Savinho. Fans were direct, emotional, and ruthless.

One fan wrote, “Genuine 0/10 Savinho performance. It’s nearly December, and we’ve not seen even 1 moment that’s made me think we were right not to sell him.” Another fan said, “Oscar Bobb and Savinho as wingers offer nothing. No width, no threat, no end product. It’s painfully clear we need a proper right-winger in January if we want to win trophies this season!” A third comment was even harsher: “Savinho actually makes my brain rot. His end product is genuinely the worst I’ve ever seen.” A fourth fan added, “I hope the Savinho supporters are hiding after this shameful performance.” Another even joked angrily, “Savinho is proof that you don’t have to be talented to make it at the professional level. He gives hope to all of us.”

The criticism was loud. And it was everywhere. Some people said Savinho needed time. Some said he needed confidence. But more people said he was not City level, and Pep needed to be ruthless if the club wanted to win trophies again. A strong percentage of the fanbase is now calling for him to be benched or even sold in January. The pain of losing makes emotions explode, and this defeat exploded everything.

Inside the dressing room, the atmosphere was different. Players were silent. Bodies were tired. Heads were down. People did not need to speak to know that the match was not good enough. Pep Guardiola was calm, but everyone could see the disappointment in his eyes. He did not shout. He did not scream. But sometimes silence is more powerful than words. That silence told the players everything they needed to know.

Outside, journalists asked questions, cameras flashed, and the world wanted answers. How can the champions of Europe lose so easily at home? What is wrong with the attack? Why were the passes slow? Why did the rotations fail? And most loudly: why is Savinho still starting?

The defeat leaves Manchester City sixth in the 36-team Champions League league phase. Not a disaster, but not a comfortable position either. Leverkusen moved to 13th, and their confidence is growing. City still have matches left, but everybody knows they cannot continue performing like this. Europe is not where you relax. Europe is where you suffer if you are not perfect.

City now return to Premier League action against Leeds United on November 29 before traveling to Fulham on December 2. Those matches will be huge, not only because of points but because of confidence. The players need to respond. Pep needs to make decisions. And the fans are waiting to see whether Savinho will start again or whether the manager will be ruthless.

Football is emotional. One week you are a hero, another week you are the villain. But some matches stay longer in the mind. This one will sit heavy in the hearts of City fans for a long time. It was Pep Guardiola’s 100th Champions League game. It should have been a celebration. Instead, it exposed problems. It exposed weaknesses. It exposed players who are not ready for the responsibility and pressure that comes with wearing the Manchester City badge.

But football always gives a new chance. A new match. A new day. City can still respond. Pep Guardiola has been here before, and he has recovered many times. But now, all eyes are on one thing: what will he do next? He is a man who loves loyalty, but he is also a man who fights for trophies. Fans believe the next decisions he makes will define the season.

Some players will need to step up. Some players may lose their place. Some will need to find their courage. The defeat against Leverkusen will not be forgotten, but it can become a lesson. What matters is what happens next. Will Manchester City react like champions or collapse like a tired team? Will Pep protect Savinho or remove him for the good of the squad? Will the spark return or will the frustration continue?

There are questions everywhere and only the next matches will answer them. That is football. It hurts today, but hope is always waiting around the corner. And for Manchester City, the corner is coming fast. Leeds first. Then Fulham. Then the world will see the