Marc Guehi Candidly Reflects on Manchester City's Champions League Setback Against PSG

Marc Guehi, the Manchester City defender, gave a straightforward review of his team's performance after their 4-2 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League. Despite an impressive night for Erling Haaland, the Premier League holders struggled following a poor start at the Etihad Stadium.

First Half Troubles for Manchester City

Manchester City faced a tough challenge as PSG dominated early, with goals from Desire Doue, Ousmane Dembele, and Vitinha putting the visitors in control before halftime. The City defense appeared hesitant and was unable to handle PSG's fast breaks effectively.

After the match, Guehi openly acknowledged the shortcomings in the first half. He said, "For the first two goals, we need to do a lot better, myself included." He added that PSG showed more intensity in winning one-on-one battles, which gave them the edge to score.

Stronger Second Half Display

The second half saw both teams push forward aggressively, combining for 42 shots on goal during the match. Guehi noted a clear change after the break, saying, "We were a lot more aggressive. We won more duels, which gave us the platform to score those goals." City controlled possession more and created 21 chances in the latter half but fell short of overturning the deficit.

Despite the loss, Guehi highlighted the positive aspects of the team's character and fan support. "Not the best first half but a lot of positives to take from the second half," he commented. "The fans stuck by us the whole game. The support was amazing."

Looking Ahead: A Call for Improvement

The Champions League campaign remains young, and Guehi stressed the importance of learning from this setback rather than being discouraged by it. "As long as we kept fighting, there was something there for us. It’s only the beginning of the competition," he said confidently. The lessons from this game will be important for maintaining momentum domestically and improving future performances.

Upcoming Fixtures

Manchester City’s eight-game unbeaten streak ended with this defeat, leaving them 17th in the 36-team Champions League table after two rounds. They face upcoming matches at the Etihad Stadium:

• Premier League: vs Ipswich Town on 17 October 2026, 17:00
• Ligue 1: vs Paris Saint-Germain on 17 October 2026, 18:15