Manchester City written off as Champions League contenders after defeat to Bodo/Glimt in Norway with defending that was 'embarrassing at times'

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Manchester City's defending was branded as "embarrassing" as they were beaten 3-1 by Bodo/Glimt in the UEFA Champions League. TNT Sports experts Karen Carney and Joleon Lescott were both less than impressed by how Pep Guardiola's side performed in Norway. The latter believes they can kiss goodbye to any hopes of being crowned European champions unless things changes dramatically.

Is Guardiola thinking of leaving City? Lescott, Carney discuss Pep's future

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TNT Sports experts Joleon Lescott and Karen Carney have written off Manchester City's hopes of lifting the UEFA Champions League after their shock loss to Bodo/Glimt.

The 2023 winners suffered a sensational 3-1 defeat in Norway, with salt rubbed into the wound by Rodri receiving a red card.

It is also a second successive reversal, having been beaten 2-0 by bitter rivals Manchester United at the weekend.

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But in European terms, it leaves the club scrambling for a place in the top eight of the league phase, and direct qualification to the last-16.

And Lescott believes they can now wave goodbye to a second European crown.

"It was miles away from what is needed to win this competition, considering they're third favourites," he said.

"Regardless of defending or attacking, they can't play like that, perform like that and expect to win this competition. I don't think they will, as a group of players, as a club.

"There'll be improvements. They've addressed that with the signing of Marc [Guehi] and hopefully he adds some more consistency to that side of the game."

City have now only kept one clean sheet across their last five outings, even conceding in a 10-1 FA Cup win over League One outfit Exeter City.

The nine goals they have conceded in the Champions League is more than six of the other seven clubs in the top eight.

And Carney believes the whole team is to blame for what is happening at the back.

"First of all, you do have to credit Bodo, who were brilliant tonight," she said.

"But in terms of City, how they defended, it was embarrassing at times. Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different outcome.

"Sometimes I couldn't believe what I was seeing. It was basics.

"Maybe I would see it with younger level defending, not Manchester City playing Champions League football.

"It just wasn't good enough tonight, at all."

Man City 'miles off' winning Champions League - Lescott

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Kasper Hogh headed the hosts into a 22nd-minute lead and, within 120 seconds, the forward had his second of the night - converting after a mistake from 20-year-old Max Alleyne led to a rapid counter-attack.

Carney was scathing of how City allowed that situation to develop, as they struggled to get numbers back in to defence.

"I mentioned earlier about desire in the action to defend," she said. "But also to help a youngster out.

"Yes, I can't argue that this is a poor decision from the young man. But you need players around you to help you out and dig you out of a hole.

"Where are the next players tracking back and busting a gut to get back? It's not there.

"What's been highlighted in this first half is a lack of leadership, particularly at the back, and the youth and the desire to do the simple things really well."

Although the second goal was avoidable, the same could not be said about the third - an outrageous solo effort by Jens Petter Hauge.

The 26-year-old tricked his way past the City midfield before curling into the top corner from distance, leaving commentator Don Hutchinson purring.

Highlights: Man City implode in shock loss to Bodo/Glimt

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"I can't see a goal being better in the Champions League tonight or tomorrow," he said. "That is an individual goal of pure brilliance. All his own making.

"But you just feel every time Manchester City give up the ball, Bodo are so dangerous. The players look stunned.

"The step over to get away from the midfield players of Manchester City and then to stick it in the top corner... you've got no right to score from there.

"That is one of the best Champions League goals I've seen for a while."

City did pull themselves back into the game when Rayan Cherki converted with a deflected strike.

But it was no more than a consolation, with things going from back to worse when Rodri saw red after picking up two yellow cards within 58 seconds of each other.

Hutchinson branded the midfielder "naive", and he will now miss their crucial final league phase outing, at home to Galatasaray next week.

What does the future hold for Guardiola?

The result raises more questions about Pep Guardiola, as City racked up their seventh defeat of the season.

The club are still going strong in the FA Cup and League Cup, but greater honours are desired within the corridors of power at the Etihad Stadium.

The Cityzens sit in second place in the Premier League, seven points behind Arsenal, after a run of four top flight outings without a win.

"I'm looking forward to hearing Pep's conversation after the game," Hutchinson added.

"How he saw the game and how it's unfolded this way. It will be an interesting interview."

Though some are questioning the Spaniard's position, TNT Sports' Lescott does not feel the ex-Barcelona coach's future is in question.

"I don't think he's thinking about leaving," he said. "You don't have this level of success if, in a bad run of form, you start to think about leaving.

"Obviously, he's had periods where it's not been going well.

"I think he's just focused on that performance tonight, a continuation of the weekend.

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"I don't think he's thinking in the back of his mind 'that's two bad performances, not results, performances, I need to leave'.

"I think he will just be thinking 'how do I make this right in time for the weekend?'"

City failed to lift a major trophy last season, as Liverpool won the Premier League title, while their Champions League hopes were ended in play-off phase by Real Madrid.

A similar fate this campaign would be their longest gap without a major honour since 2016/17.

Carney concluded: "He's been there a long time, but I'm certainly not going to spark rumours or try and get something out there.

"Ultimately, if they win their next game, they've got 16 points. They're already 2-0 up in the first leg of the League Cup.

"Yes it's seven points off Arsenal, but they're into the next round of the FA Cup. There's a lot to be positive [about].

"But it's obviously been a very bad week. Injuries... they just need to regroup and the reaction and desire needs to happen and pretty quick."

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