MANCHESTER, England :Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola shouldered the blame for his team's shock 2-0 Champions League defeat to Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday, conceding that his decision to overhaul the starting 11 was a massive misstep.

The City boss made 10 changes from the weekend’s Premier League game, a 2-1 loss at Newcastle United, leaving out key figures such as striker Erling Haaland, who has 14 league goals this season. No other City player has more than one.

He was quick to admit the gamble was excessive.

"There were too many changes," were the first words of Guardiola's post-match press conference.

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