Wayne Rooney highlights Pep Guardiola’s top ‘worry’ in Man City

Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has identified Pep Guardiola’s top worry at Manchester City as he slammed the club for their “naivety” during their collapse against Real Madrid.

Real Madrid produced a stunning comeback to beat Manchester City 3-2 on Tuesday night in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 playoff. Erling Haaland scored twice to put City in the driver’s seat but goals from from Kylian Mbappe, Brahim Diaz, and Jude Bellingham turned the game around.

City lost control of the match in dying minutes as Real Madrid capitalised on their mistake to produce another epic win.

Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid pulls the shirt of Erling Haaland of Manchester City during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off first leg. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Speaking after the match on Amazon Prime, Rooney criticised City’s tactical approach and suggested the players lacked the belief that had previously defined their success under Guardiola.

“I think there was a lot of naivety from Manchester City – especially later in the game,” he told Prime Video. “For me, I think Manchester City’s players over the last few years you have seen a strong belief and confidence. The players tonight were looking round at each other, almost with a lack of belief in each other, and I think that is a worry for Guardiola. Real Madrid have come here without any of their back four and I don’t think we have heard Carlo Ancelotti talk about that once.”

Rooney further stressed that City’s game management in the final stages was poor, suggesting that they should have adopted a more pragmatic approach once they were in the lead.

“When you are 2-1 up against Real Madrid with a game coming up at the Bernabeu, you have to say ‘let’s be sensible’, let them have the ball in their half, reset,” the Manchester United legend stated.

With the defeat, City now face a daunting challenge as they head to Madrid for the second leg next Wednesday, knowing that anything less than a victory will result in an early Champions League exit.