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'The hell' - European media react after Man City's three-goal Champions League collapse

Erling Haaland reacts as Manchester City draw 3-3 with Feyenoord
-Credit: (Image: ANP via Getty Images)


Manchester City's current woes worsened on Tuesday night after they had to settle for a point against Feyenoord in the Champions League despite leading 3-0.

All looked well going into the last 20 minutes as Erling Haaland's brace and Ilkay Gundogan's deflected effort put City on the brink of victory. However, a combination of bad defending and poor luck saw the Dutch side escape with a point as Anis Hadj-Moussa, Santiago Gimenez and David Hancko all scored from the 74th minute onward to stun the Etihad Stadium.

The draw leaves City two points off the top eight in the Champions League ahead of tonight's second half of matches. Unsurprisingly, the winless run is leading to plenty of media attention across Europe and MEN Sport has rounded up what is being said both here and abroad.

READ MORE: City player ratings vs Feyenoord

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Voetbal International

The Dutch media outlet were clearly delighted by Feyenoord's comeback on Tuesday night but took a moment to focus on City's current woes. They ran quotes from former Dutch player Pierre van Hooijdonk who slammed City's arrogance.

"Sometimes special forces arise in football. How is it possible that it becomes 3-3, you think," he explained.

"But City kept playing football, thought that nothing could beat them and was no longer focused. It was arrogant play.

"Now it brought back the faith in Feyenoord. Three more goals in fifteen minutes, I wouldn't have dared to bet an old-fashioned penny on that."

Gazzetta dello Sport

Davide Chinellato declared City to be in a crisis, before adding: "Injuries, players out of shape, others squeezed too much and some transfer market errors. City, however, are not themselves on the pitch at the moment.

"Not used to defeats, Guardiola's team seems not to have understood how to react on a mental level and seems crushed by the weight of losing and the idea of compromising the entire season so soon. On the pitch, however, at City everything is difficult at the moment.

"This is why this is such a complicated moment that not even the announcement of Pep's renewal has served to bring about a turning point."

Marca

Irati Prat did not mince his words in his column for Marca, writing: "The hell that Manchester City is experiencing was consummated in 14 minutes. It is the worst moment of the 'Guardiola era' in Manchester.

"The losing streak is interrupted but City have now gone six games without a win. More than a month."

The Athletic

Meanwhile, Sam Lee at The Athletic insisted that fans should reset all the information they know about City. "It is a staple of the Etihad Stadium experience, a sign of normality: City are going to win this match, get ready for a fairly sedate final 20 minutes," he wrote.

"Maybe they score another one, maybe not, but they will win. Those assurances, right now, are a thing of the past.

"Forget everything you thought you knew. City, the team that has won six out of the last seven Premier League titles, one of the best teams in history, became the first Champions League side to have a three-goal lead at the 75-minute mark and not win."