The Citizens were not able to hold on to their lead at Red Bull Arena.
Pep Guardiola has defended his decision not to make any changes to Manchester City’s lineup during their draw against Leipzig.
City went 1-0 ahead through Riyad Mahrez’s goal in the first half. But a towering header from Josko Gvardiol gave the hosts their dissevered equalizer after the break.
Guardiola, whose side have struggled for consistency in recent weeks, faced criticism for not bringing in the likes of Julian Alvarez and Phil Foden in the second period.
“I have the opportunity as a rule to make five substitutions,” he began. “But I am the manager and I apply it and I take it if I want.
“So that doesn’t mean that because I have five substitutions I have to do five substitutions. And I am a so good manager to decide what I have to do or not.”
Guardiola’s side have dropped points in two of their last five Premier League games. Most observers believe the Citizens lack the attacking edge that they had before the World Cup.
He added: “I was really pleased with what I was seeing. So I thought of course with Phil to have this talent to do this. But after the goal I thought immediately to put Phil, but immediately we took again the game in our hands and then with this control that we had.
“Because they play with six up front, we play with the two-two plus the full-backs plus the wingers, four players, incredible runners, and in that position and the way they play you have to have a lot of control.
“That’s why the players that we had, like Gundo [Ilkay Gundogan], like Riyad [Mahrez], the extra passes they were doing are what we need, especially in the first leg. Maybe in the second leg I will decide to be crazy and play with nine strikers!”
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