Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola admitted his players’ confidence is at an all-time low after they threw away a three-goal lead with just 15 minutes to go to draw 3-3 at home to Feyenoord in the Champions League.

City looked set for a confidence-boosting victory after taking the lead with three goals just eight minutes into the second half. Erling Haaland scored either side of half-time after being guilty of wasting several openings in Saturday’s 4-0 defeat to Tottenham in the Premier League.

However, the visitors stunned City by scoring three times in the final 15 minutes – the first time they had thrown away such a lead under Guardiola – leaving the 2023 Champions League winners languishing in 15th place after a sixth game in the new format. run in all competitions without a win, including five defeats.

Guardiola said the team’s recent losing streak affected their confidence.

“We have lost a lot of games lately, we are vulnerable and of course we need a win,” he said Amazon Prime after the match.

“The match was good for confidence, we were playing at a good level and then something happened for the first time, we have problems.

“Everyone knows the situation, we don’t have to adjust anything. Tomorrow (Wednesday) we have to train, recover and then prepare for the next match. We have two or three days to prepare for that and go for it. We will go for the future.

“It has been a very difficult season for us due to many circumstances and today the match was unfortunately well done, we punished them at the right moments. The team was so committed to so many things. But unfortunately something happened and we were not strong enough. We must avoid these mistakes.”

The City boss was unable to explain why the Premier League champions, who have now conceded 17 goals in their past six games, have found it so difficult to return to winning ways. He added: “We are not able to win games because as a team, we always found a way to win games.

“At the moment we can’t get new ones after situations. After the 3-0, nothing happened. We couldn’t score a fourth, we couldn’t score a fifth. Nothing happened. We were in control, but now something happened.” “

Guardiola was also quick to defend Josko Gvardiol after the Croatian endured another difficult night at the back.

“He is so young, he will learn,” Guardiola said. “It will be a good experience. With the way he played he was the best player on the pitch. I would be so wrong if I pointed anything specific to our defeat.”

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

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Ake: It feels like a defeat – maybe we have a mentality problem

Manchester City defender Nathan Aké in conversation with Amazon Prime:

“Difficult – 3-0 up and we were playing quite well and in control, but then it all changed.

“You just have to stay mentally strong. At 3-1 they persevere, but I think we should go for it a little earlier so that we could keep the pressure on them. But we kept playing at the back and might have been invited.” more pressure on us.

“If you then concede the second, there is even more pressure, and then we have to stay mentally stronger.”

On if City concede the match: “Yes, I think so. When you are 3-0 at home, you can never give it away like that. It is what it is at the moment. All we can do is fight back and stay strong.”

If the draw feels like a defeat: “When you’re three goals up, it feels like a defeat when you concede three goals at home. It’s tough now, a tough night, but all we can do is look forward to the next one. Liverpool is a big game and it is another challenge to overcome.”

About when problems are a mentality problem: “Maybe so. It’s hard to say. Obviously we haven’t been in this situation that often, but this is where we have to show our character. When everything seems to be going against us and everyone is writing us off, we have to stay mentally strong, believe within ourselves and stay together.

“Every season there is a period where they write us off. We have to make sure we stay strong as a team and staff and make sure we come out of it.”