Pep Guardiola issues statement on X over post-Feyenoord ‘self-harm’ comments | OneFootball

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has issued a statement on social media platform X over comments made after his side’s 3-3 draw with Feyenoord.

Erling Haaland’s brace including a first-half strike from the penalty spot had been accompanied by a goal from Ilkay Gundogan early in the second-half, to give what many thought would be an unassailable lead for the Premier League champions.

However, a sensational fightback from the Dutch giants left the Etihad Stadium in shock, as a collapse for the ages from Manchester City saw them throw away their three-goal lead and leave a sixth consecutive match without a win.

Comments after the game from Pep Guardiola saw the 53-year-old reveal what had happened to his face during the closing exchanges, with viewers noticing a cut to his nose sustained at some stage during the second-half of the encounter with Feyenoord.

“My finger, here, with my nail. I wanted to harm myself, yeah,” Pep Guardiola told reporters after the game during his post-match media conference.

However, in a statement on X released on Wednesday, Guardiola has stated, “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.”

Guardiola clarified, “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 jo@samaritans.org.”

Pep Guardiola and Manchester City will now look to recover themselves from another shock outcome across 90 minutes to refocus their attention on Sunday afternoon’s meeting with Liverpool in the Premier League.