Marc Guehi delivers blunt Man City verdict after PSG defeat

Marc Guehi described City‘s first-half performance against PSG as “not really acceptable” after the European champions won 4-2 at the Etihad.

City were 3-0 down at half-time after goals from Desire Doue, Ousmane Dembele and Vitinha. Erling Haaland scored twice after the break, but Maghnes Akliouche’s fourth for PSG helped condemn Enzo Maresca to his first defeat as City manager.

Guehi unhappy with Man City first half

Guehi accepted his share of the responsibility after City struggled to deal with PSG’s intensity before the break.

“First half we need to do a lot better, myself included, for the first two goals,” he told City Studios. “I think they were a bit more aggressive and won a lot of one-on-one duels in the first half, which allowed them the platform to score those goals.”

City’s problems were compounded by conceding twice in quick succession, with Doue and Dembele scoring 99 seconds apart. Guehi felt the performance fell short of the standard expected at home.

“More the fact that playing at home, it’s not really acceptable, that performance in the first half in front of our fans. I’m just really glad everyone reacted in a positive manner and at least came out fighting.”

Maresca made three changes at half-time, and City responded with 21 attempts during the second half. Haaland scored twice and also hit the woodwork as the hosts threatened an unlikely recovery.

Guehi said the improvement could not disguise the defensive mistakes which had left City with too much to do.

“If we defend better, we give ourselves a good chance of winning the game,” he said. “So you can’t always say we have to score five or six goals to win a game.”

PSG’s quality meant those errors were punished. Guehi said the Champions League leaves little margin for defensive lapses, adding: “Any moment you go 50/50 in those challenges or not following your men, they’ll exploit it.”

City return to Premier League action against Ipswich Town at the Etihad on Saturday.

Read our full report from Man City’s 4-2 defeat by PSG.

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