Guardiola explains shock Man City defeat in bizarre fashion

Michael Graham

Pep Guardiola has explained that ‘forgetting to attack’ is the reason why Manchester City lost to Basel on Wednesday night. 

City slumped to a shock 2-1 defeat at the Etihad, but still cruised through to the Champions League quarter finals courtesy of a 5-2 aggregate score.

Guardiola, though, had an unusual excuse for the defeat, saying: “I’m so happy to be in the quarter-finals because it’s quite new for us.

“We forgot to attack in the second half. We have to pass the ball to attack, not pass to pass. We forgot to try to go through and make a moment, runs in behind.

“Some players were tired. When you make changes, your level isn’t the same. Congratulations to Basel. It’s not a problem to concede those two goals.

“It was the first time Gabriel Jesus played 90 minutes since his injury so that’s good for him.”