Pep still feels responsible for City exit last season
Pep Guardiola admitted he still feels responsible for Manchester City's Champions League quarter-final exit last season as he looks to a new opportunity in the competition this time around.
Only two months have passed since City' s shock defeat to Lyon in Lisbon, and the experience of that night still rankles as they prepare to star t again in tonight’s Group C fixture at home to Porto.
"It was a tough moment," Guardiola said. "I felt so responsible for how the club felt, all the players, I was not able to drive them and I still right now feel so responsible.
"But watching the games we have to accept the reality that we were not good enough.”
AV AR controversy, a shocking miss from Ra he em Sterling and a cl anger from Ed er son all played a role in the 2-1 defeat to Lyon, though fingers were also pointed at the manager's tactical changes.
Meanwhile, Liverpool's defensive options have been stretched further after Joel Ma tip did not train ahead of their Champions League opener against Ajax and is unlikely to travel.
The Reds are already without senior centreback Virgil Van Dijk, out for several months with an anterior cruciate ligament injury which requires surgery,
and losing Matip - who was spotted coming out of a Liverpool hospital at the weekend - is a further blow for the English champions.
It means Liverpool are likely to line up with Jo e Gomez and mid fielder Fa bin ho in central defence.