Pep Guardiola was visibly stressed during the final moments of Manchester City’s dramatic collapse against Feyenoord, but his frustrations started even before kick-off. The City manager had a noticeable cut on his nose, which he later explained was caused by accidentally scratching himself with a sharp fingernail.
City seemed on course to end their five-match losing streak in all competitions after establishing a commanding 3-0 lead, thanks to goals from Erling Haaland and Ilkay Gundogan. However, the game unraveled in the final 15 minutes, leaving Guardiola visibly distraught on the touchline. Feyenoord capitalized on City’s defensive lapses, starting with Anis Hadj Moussa, who punished a mistake by Josko Gvardiol to pull one back in the 74th minute. Santiago Gimenez then scored with a chest control and finish eight minutes later, and David Hancko completed the comeback in the 89th minute, earning Feyenoord a 3-3 draw.
During the match, Guardiola was seen holding his head in his hands as his team’s defensive frailties emerged once again. Fans noticed scratches on his head and a fresh cut on his nose during his post-match press conference. When asked about his injury, Guardiola candidly replied that he had accidentally scratched his nose with his fingernail and, in a moment of frustration, added, “I want to harm myself.” This remark sparked criticism, with many feeling it trivialized the issue of self-harm.
In response to the backlash, Guardiola issued a clarification the following day. He explained that his comment was a flippant remark made at the end of a tense press conference and emphasized that it was not intended to diminish the seriousness of self-harm or mental health struggles. Guardiola took the opportunity to highlight available support for those dealing with mental health challenges, referencing the Samaritans hotline and email service.
The pressure on Guardiola and his team is set to intensify as they prepare to face Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday. A loss to the league leaders could leave City 11 points adrift, a gap both Guardiola and Ilkay Gundogan have acknowledged might effectively end their title hopes.