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'IS IT ME?'

Pep Guardiola admits ‘maybe it is my fault’ after Man City collapses against Liverpool and Manchester United

Spanish maestro fears these results could have a knock-on effect for Tuesday's Champions League re-match with the Reds

Pep Guardiola reflects on rare misery for his Manchester City side this season - against Liverpool in the Champions League quarter-final first leg

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PEP GUARDIOLA admits that he could be to blame for successive high profile defeats to Liverpool and Manchester United.

Manchester City followed their 3-0 Champions League quarter-final, first leg loss at Anfield by conceding two goals in 16 minutes in the Manchester derby.

 Pep Guardiola's side had one hand on the Prem title at half-time against Manchester United but lost out
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Pep Guardiola's side had one hand on the Prem title at half-time against Manchester United but lost outCredit: EPA

The 3-2 loss to United ruined the Citizens' hopes of lifting the Premier League title on Saturday.

City also let in three in the space of nine second-half minutes when they lost 4-3 at Liverpool in the Premier League in January.

Guardiola acknowledged this anomaly is a concern that has haunted him previously in his coaching career.

Recalling how a Lionel Messi-inspired Barcelona took apart his Bayern Munich late in the first leg of a 2015 semi-final, he said: "I thought many times about that.

 Paul Pogba scored twice to ruin Pep's day on Saturday
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Paul Pogba scored twice to ruin Pep's day on SaturdayCredit: AP:Associated Press
 A frustrated Guardiola also saw his team hammered at Liverpool in the Champions League
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A frustrated Guardiola also saw his team hammered at Liverpool in the Champions LeagueCredit: REUTERS

"I dropped a lot of Champions League games in 10 or 15 minutes and I think about that.

"Barcelona, 0-0 after 77 minutes; 90, 3-0. It's happened many times.


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"Maybe it is my fault. I have to think about it but I feel that when you dominate and create chances you are closer to winning the games.

"I think this season showed that with the numbers we have done in terms of goals and - when the team is stable - the chances we concede.

Pep Guardiola has made the incredible claim about Pogba just 24 hours before the Manchester derby
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Now Guardiola fears the Manchester derby loss could affect his players in the re-match with Liverpool on TuesdayCredit: Getty
 The City boss certainly doesn't want to end up feeling like this again
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The City boss certainly doesn't want to end up feeling like this againCredit: EPA

"I think we are the best with these type of players. We concede few. But it is impossible when the opponents arrive four times and score three goals.

"No system can sustain that. It's so complicated."

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Guardiola also accepts the derby collapse could affect them in the second Champions League leg against Liverpool on Tuesday.

He said: "Yeah, it can happen. It's difficult in itself [beating Liverpool] and it's difficult for our mood not winning against United.

"But maybe we will improve for the future on that, to realise that sometimes it's not enough, what you are able to do, to win the games.

"In the first half we tried to do what we’ve done all season but maybe it's not enough to win at Champions League level or the Premier League."

 

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