'That's not what we're built for': Gundogan reflects on Man City defeat

Manchester City's crisis continued with a 2-0 defeat away to Juventus in the Champions League on Wednesday, while Pep Guardiola's old club Barcelona beat Borussia Dortmund to clinch a spot in the knockout stage of Europe's elite club competition.

Arsenal, AC Milan, Atletico Madrid, Lille, Feyenoord and Stuttgart were also victorious, but City's latest loss in a miserable run will dominate the headlines. The 2023 European champions succumbed in Turin as Dusan Vlahovic put Juventus ahead early in the second half when goalkeeper Ederson was unable to keep out his header.

Ilkay Gundogan was denied an equaliser by a fine Michele Di Gregorio save, before Weston McKennie made it 2-0 with a fine acrobatic finish in the 75th minute.

"At the moment it feels like every attack we concede, it's so dangerous. I have a feeling sometimes we're a bit careless in duels, instead of playing simple we over-complicate things, and we miss the right timing to pass or release the ball, and just lose balls," Gundogan told TNT Sports.

 

December 11, 2024

"They score on the transition every time and give them counter-attacks and we have to chase every time 50, 60 metres back. That's not what we're built for; we're built for possession, keeping the ball, being strong. Even if you cannot do anything in a duel, don't lose it. At the moment it's just not working out for us," he added.

"(Confidence) is a big part of it and obviously that's a mental issue as well. I feel like you can see we are, one action we miss the ball or lose the duel and you see we drop immediately and lose the rhythm," he concluded.

Manchester City have now won just once in 10 in all competitions, with seven defeats in that time. With just eight points, they currently sit 22nd in the standings, in which the top 24 advance to the knockouts. Their next game will be crucial, as they travel to a Paris Saint-Germain side who sit a point beneath Guardiola's men.