Croatian defender Josko Gvardiol cost £77 million when he joined City from RB Leipzig in August 2023.

He struggled last weekend in the 4-0 home defeat against Tottenham and was responsible for Feyenoord’s first and second goal on Tuesday.

Gvardiol horribly misplaced a back pass, allowing Anis Hadj to round Moussa Ederson and score Feyenoord’s first goal.

Normally that would have been just a consolation and City would have closed out the game, but Gvardiol had another moment to forget eight minutes from time.

Again he gave the ball away and Feyenoord stormed. The ball was thrown into the penalty area and Jordan Lotomba fired a shot that went off the post and over the goal, where substitute Santiago Gimenez chested it in.

“It was a comical defensive error from Josko Gvardiol that allowed Feyenoord back into the game and they capitulated,” former England winger Andros Townsend told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“We have never seen such defensive weaknesses at Manchester City. It seems to crop up in every game they have played recently.

“They were cruising. In the end, all that City’s hard work has been undone and the pressure is now even greater ahead of the Premier League match against Liverpool.”

Former Manchester City player Gael Clichy said Guardiola’s side are missing a ‘vocal’ leader in the team.

“You can’t continue to make individual mistakes,” Clichy told Amazon Prime.

“That has happened in the last six games. They lack a vocal leader. A strong leader at the back.”

Guardiola added: “Gvardiol will learn. He was the best player on the pitch, but I will be very wrong if I aim anything specifically at him.”

“He is a fantastic player, a fantastic boy and needs more help than ever.”