Pep Guardiola has issued a statement saying that he did not intend "to make light" of self-harm when responding to a question about scratches on his face following Manchester City's 3-3 Champions League draw with Feyenoord.
The Citizens manager watched his team throw away a three-goal lead over their Dutch counterparts on Tuesday night in the final 15 minutes of the match at the Etihad Stadium, leaving them languishing in 15th place in the 36-team UCL standings.
Guardiola, who is without a win in six matches (D1 L5), was seen with several scratches on his face and head at the end of the match, including a large cut down the centre of his nose.
The Catalan coach acknowledged the facial marks after the game at his post-match press conference, telling reporters: "It's from my nail on my finger. I cut myself with my fingernail [during the game]. I want to harm myself."
Guardiola laughed as he left the press conference, but the Man City boss has since taken to social media to clarify his comments.
A statement posted on Guardiola's behalf by his official account @PepTeam on X and Instagram read: "I was caught off guard with a question at the end of a press conference last night about a scratch which had appeared on my face and explained that a sharp fingernail had accidentally caused this.
"My answer was in no way intended to make light of the very serious issue of self-harm."
The statement added that Guardiola is aware that "many people struggle with mental health issues every day" and he has referenced the Samaritans charity to "highlight one of the ways people can seek help".
Guardiola will next address the media at a pre-match press conference on Friday ahead of Manchester City's top-of-the-table Premier League showdown with leaders Liverpool at Anfield.
The reigning Premier League champions have not won a match in any competition since beating Southampton 1-0 at the Etihad on October 26, and they currently sit eight points behind table-toppers Liverpool after 12 games.
Guardiola said after City's disappointing draw with Feyenoord - in which they set multiple unwanted records - that his team is currently "fragile", while they were also labelled "weak" and "frail" following another mistake-riddled defensive performance.
The Citizens have conceded a total a of 17 goals across their six-game winless run, shipping at least two goals on each occasion, and will now turn their attention to a challenging clash with an in-form Liverpool side who have scored 14 goals in their last five wins.
