Posted: 20:12, 16 April 2022 | Updated: 23:04, 16 April 2022
Pep Guardiola insisted he did not regret the team he chose at Wembley and refused to blame back-up goalkeeper Jacques Stephen. Guardiola made seven changes to the team that had drawn 0-0 with Atletico Madrid on Wednesday to qualify for the Champions League, one of the most notable being the rest of Anderson for Stephen, who plays most of the domestic cup competitions. Stephen was responsible for Liverpool’s second goal, as his bad touch allowed Santio Mane to pay him and punish him to the maximum result. The United international – who also had questions to answer about allowing a volley by Manet to slip past him at the half-time – was shattered by the final whistle and was comforted by Ruben Dias on the pitch. Manchester City lost in the FA Cup semi-finals, but Pep Guardiola did not regret choosing his team Jacques Stephen made a vital mistake in the first half, but Guardiola refused to blame his goalkeeper Guardiola said: “I have a lot of confidence in my players. We had a lot of games and trips and a lot of important games and that’s why I chose the team. “The first goal (by Ibrahima Konate) was a set up, where Liverpool are so strong and scoring a lot of goals, and the second was an accident. We then conceded a goal in the last minute of the first half, but then we showed incredible pride. “We did not look tired after scoring, because football has dynamics. We had the most clear chances and scored goals. It is not easy to do this against Liverpool. “We fought to the end and showed our pride.” Ibraima Konate scored from a corner in the first half and gave Liverpool the lead Santo Mane also scored twice to give Liverpool a dominant lead at halftime Guardiola praised his team for the pride they showed as they almost returned to the second half For Steffen, Guardiola added: “It was an accident, but we need to try because that’s how we play our football. I talked to the team in general, but it was an accident, it happens. Eddie was close (to the mistake) to the last game. It happens. We need it to create our football. Of course you have to check if it happens often enough, but we use our goalkeeper to transport our opponents to different situations. “I would say that on average, the way we make our choices, these things can happen. It’s an accident. I’m sure Jacques didn’t want to do it. “Sometimes the attackers fail in front of the goalkeeper, other times the goalkeeper makes a mistake.”
