Pep Guardiola clarifies comments about self-harm joke after Manchester City's draw in UCL

City are winless in their last six games.

Pep Guardiola has once again spoken about self-harm after Manchester City drew 3-3 with Feyenoord in a UEFA Champions League fixture. After the game, the head coach had bruises on his head and his nose was scratched.

When asked about his bruises and scratch the former Barcelona manager said: “I cut it with my finger.” Guardiola told a press conference, and then appeared to joke: “I want to hurt myself.”

Since then it has caused controversy. The Spanish coach has also been criticised for making a joke on self-harm. Pep Guardiola has since clarified his statement after making a tweet from his official account on X, which read:

”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. ”

“I want to hurt myself.” Pep Guardiola explains the scratches on his face and nose after Man City’s draw vs. Feyenoord 😮 pic.twitter.com/R0tXHhcZAa

— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) November 27, 2024

”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].”

After two goals by Erling Haaland and one via Ilkay Gundogan gave City a 3-0 lead early in the second half, they appeared to be coasting to their first win in six games. However, they handed up three goals in the last fifteen minutes due to some terrible defending.

This was the first time Manchester City have drawn a game after leading by three goals since May 1989. Guardiola acknowledged that he did not anticipate Feyenoord’s comeback, despite making three substitutes halfway through the second half.

The champions need to recover from their recent poor performance before their trip to Premier League leaders Liverpool on Sunday. If they lose at Anfield, where they haven’t triumphed since 2003 (except from the pandemic-affected 2020–21 campaign), City will drop 11 points behind the Reds, a deficit Guardiola has acknowledged would be impossible to repair.

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