Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has expressed regret for his recent remarks citing he felt distressed after his team squandered a three-goal lead against Feyenoord in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday.
Guardiola's controversial 'self-harm' statement
Earlier in the press conference following an embarrassing 3-3 draw with Feyenoord, Guardiola appeared with a harsh cut on his nose and some scratches on the top of his head. When asked about those injuries, Guardiola asserted that he wanted to inflict self-harm after the series of losses.
Manchester City was firmly in control, leading 3-0 early in the second half with Erling Haaland netting two goals and Ilkay Gundogan adding another. However, a shocking collapse in defence led them to concede three goals in the final 15 minutes. Josko Gvardiol's performance was particularly alarming, as he committed two critical errors, following up his disastrous showing against Tottenham.
"I cut it with my finger, I want to hurt myself." Guardiola said in the press conference.
Guardiola issues an apology
"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," Pep 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 people can seek help, by calling the Samaritans hotline on 116 123 or emailing jo@samaritans.org." he added.
Guardiola is currently facing the toughest period of his managerial career, as City has suffered five consecutive losses across all competitions—an unprecedented situation for him. The disastrous performance against Feyenoord marked a significant collapse.
As per some sources, no team in the Champions League history has ever squandered a three-goal advantage in the final 15 minutes of regular playtime.