Pep Guardiola reaction: 'We struggled' - Man City manager on late drama as City edge past Leeds

Pep Guardiola wasn't that happy after his Manchester City side beat Leeds 3-2 on Saturday, as City somehow coughed up a 2-0 lead against struggling Leeds United but Phil Foden won it in stoppage time.

MORE — Recap, analysis, video highlights

City were cruising and led 2-0 at half time but the introduction of Dominic Calvert-Lewin at half time to partner Lukas Nmecha seemed to ruffle City's feathers and Leeds surged back to make it 2-2.

Guardiola gave an impromptu team talk during the second half during an injury break as City were struggling to cope with Leeds' tactical changes.

But Foden scored in the 91st minute to clinch a big win for City as they bounced back from their defeat at Newcastle last weekend.

Here's the latest Pep Guardiola reaction, as City continue to struggle in the opening months of the season.

Pep Guardiola reaction

On the emotions of that game: "We played really good in the first half. It should be over. For the chances we concede after Daniel brilliantly changed the shape with 5-3-2, we concede a goal too early and after that we are adjusting to struggles in our build-up and everything we struggled. We really, really struggled. At the end we put a lot of talented players with Rayan Cherki and Phil Foden and Omar there and it helped us and we had the chances and at the end Phil and his talent put the ball to the net."

On if that win will ignite the team: "It helps a lot to win that way. To realize how difficult everything is. We knew it. Especially after two defeats and the game against Leverkusen was difficult to swallow for many reasons. It is important to win that game."

On if he saw more aggression today after calling for it in midweek: "If sometimes you are aggressive that doesn't mean you play good. Sometimes you lose a lot of balls. We just tried. In football and life you have to try. The consequences are useless. It doesn't matter. You have to try, make mistakes and do it, it is part of that. Of course what happened we started really well but even with the first goal the long balls, the second balls, and especially with the ball we lose a lot of balls and they punished us."

On his chat with Erling Haaland on the pitch at the end, because he didn't see the ball as much? "That is our problem. Striker needs the balls delivered and Erling needed the balls to be delivered. I was happy and I had to try to find a way to be involved. Erling sometimes has to rest because he plays a lot of minutes but sometimes with his body I don't know if it's good to rest. Sometimes it is better to play, play, play and after 60 minutes maybe you are tired and go out. I don't know when his body stops. With Phil, Jeremy, Bernardo, when they stop rest is good because they come back immediately. I need to talk to him because maybe we need everyone to be involved."

On job done today ahead of Chelsea vs Arsenal tomorrow: "We know it but in the end we have to play at Chelsea again, everyone plays everyone but of course we knew how important was Leverkusen and almost qualify for the first eight, now we have to struggle a lot. But at the end Champions League is important to be in, important to go through and the Premier League not to be far away against a team that is unstoppable now. The first in the Premier League, the first in Europe, so solid, so good for many years and now they are proving that. We have to try to get better and win games and everybody involved and of course it is important today to be second and we will see tomorrow what happens and it is important to have the six and seven in the table as far as Champions League for next season, try to win the games, next Tuesday we have a massive, massive game."

Phil Foden reaction

On how this game ranks in terms of the wild ones he's been involved in: "Right up there with one of the wildest games. Was in full control in the first half. They changed it around in the second half, changed their system, we couldn't seem to get going, get any passes together and we found ourselves 2-2. It was a frustrating half but when we had a little short break the manager got us together to adapt to their formation and we started playing again. We put on the pressure, had a few half chances and finally I managed to find a bit of space and get my shot off and find the bottom of the net. Really happy with it but there's still things we can improve. We are not going to be happy with the full performance but overall delighted with the result."

On being in a title race and things not being straightforward this season: "It never is. A title race is never straightforward. There are always ups and downs and periods where you can't seem to get going and find results. I think we've had that recently in the last few games. I am delighted with the courage and heart the lads showed today and believe that we were going to win. Overall the belief and togetherness came through in the end."