[BBC]Emily Brobyn - Fan writerWed, November 26, 2025 at 2:12 PM UTC·2 min read
[Getty Images]Having been thumped last season by Real Madrid in the Champions League play-offs last season, Manchester City had enjoyed a positive start to their campaign this time round.
Unbeaten and sitting pretty in fourth spot before last night, one might have been inclined to think boss Pep Guardiola would keep the ship steady.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementVisitors Bayer Leverkusen had a point to prove with just one win so far and stuck in 21st. Kasper Hjulmand's side have been scoring for fun in the Bundesliga recently – and were ready to unleash their firepower in Europe.
So it was not a night for experiments or wholesale changes – but Pep decided to make 10 alterations to the side that lost in the Premier League at Newcastle. Not so much plain sailing, but a tsunami for City.
The Champions League is not a competition to rotate so heavily. It was not disrespectful to Leverkusen, but it did hand them an advantage. Disruption and lack of rhythm was to be expected with so many changes.
You would think a manager taking charge of his 100th Champions League game for the club would have the foresight to recognise the threat Leverkusen pose and guard against it with gentle tweaks.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWith rotation comes opportunity though and almost all failed their audition. There is huge concern about our squad depth and whether players like Rico Lewis, Savinho and Oscar Bobb can bring the quality City need to fight on all fronts for silverware this season.
The mesmeric was replaced by mediocrity – and the lack of fight from most was seriously damning.
As for Pep? All the best geniuses are flawed. Making five substitutes by the 65th minute showed he recognised the error of his ways. He has admitted as much – but with a trip to the Bernabeu to face Real Madrid up next, Guardiola did not have to make life so difficult for himself.
Maybe that is what he thrives on, but sometimes a safe passage would be the wisest course of action instead of unnecessary anarchy.
Emily Brobyn is regularly on BBC Radio Manchester - find all their Man City audio here
