Pep Guardiola explains facial scratches after Man City’s Champions League collapse

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola revealed that the scratches on his nose were self-inflicted during his side's 3-3 Champions League draw with Feyenoord, originally claiming that he had intentionally harmed himself before clarifying that it had been accidental.

The Catalan coach had been put through an emotional rollercoaster on Tuesday night. After watching his side take a 3-0 lead at home to the Dutch outfit, Guardiola's team collapsed in the final 15 minutes.

Josko Gvardiol was at fault for Feyenoord's first of the evening, inadvertently stabbing a back-pass straight into the path of Anis Hadj-Moussa in the 74th minute. Despite still leading 3-1 at the time, Guardiola was visibly distressed. Following calamitous goals from Santiago Gimenez and David Hancko, the beleaguered boss had been physically marked by the draw.

City's manager also had red marks scattered over his forehead and scalp.

On Wednesday morning, Guardiola felt compelled to release a statement on social media explaining his comments. "I was caught off guard with a question at the end of a press conference last night about a scratch which had appeared on my face and explained that a sharp fingernail had accidentally caused this.

"My answer was in no way intended to make light of the very serious issue of self harm.

"I know that many people struggle with mental health issues every day, and I would like to take this moment to highlight one of the ways in people can seek help, by calling the Samaritans hotline on 116 123 or emailing [email protected]."

The reigning Premier League champions came into the game on the back of five consecutive defeats - the worst losing streak of Guardiola's career. Following a 4-0 humbling at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday evening, the 53-year-old admitted his side were "fragile".

Guardiola used the same terminology on Tuesday. "We lost a lot of games lately, we are fragile and we needed a victory, the game was good for the confidence," he sighed. "We were playing at a good level but the first time something happened, we had problems."

City may have ended their losing sequence, but they conceded two or more goals for the sixth match in succession - a run which the club has not replicated since 1963.

This damaged iteration of the champions faces the daunting task of a trip to league-leading Liverpool on Sunday afternoon. Guardiola's facial wounds may have healed by then, but the cracks running throughout his City side could be harder to fix.

READ THE LATEST MAN CITY NEWS, TRANSFER RUMOURS & GOSSIP