Pep Guardiola said missing key players played a role in Manchester City's late capitulation to Brentford on Tuesday.
Phil Foden, who scored a hat-trick at the Gtech Community Stadium last season, scored twice after the break to put the visitors on course for a fourth straight win in all competitions.
But late goals from Yoane Wissa and Christian Norgaard secured a point for the Bees, who ended their own losing streak on home soil.
City have now dropped 14 points from wins in the Premier League this season, their highest ever total in a league match under Guardiola (previously 13 in 2020/21 and 2022/23).
It was also the first time since a 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace in 2023 that the Citizens had failed to win a top-flight match in which they were ahead by two or more goals, having won 22 consecutive games before Tuesday.
And Guardiola, missing injured trio Ruben Dias, John Stones and Rodri, believed their absence was crucial to their collapse in the closing stages of the match.
“With the absence of the central defenders, Rodri, we are no longer able to do that with many things [at our best] and we didn't make the right decisions.
“We have a different type of player now and in the end we couldn't defend that situation.
“They put six, seven players in the penalty area, put crosses, and sometimes they are better, so there are more players, they are bigger, they are stronger in (heading).
“It's fine, it's not a good place to go. Unfortunately we couldn't win.”
Guardiola was also able to describe the conversation he had with Stefan Ortega after the match.
The Spaniard was extremely animated as he spoke to his goalkeeper, who powerfully secured Norgaard's late equalizer.
“I said how well he played in actions with the ball, how good his pass (was) to Erling (Haaland), how happy and satisfied I am,” Guardiola explained.
Despite his positive words about Ortega, Guardiola expressed disappointment after throwing away more valuable points in their quest to finish in the top four.
“We are a bit disappointed but with a 2-0 lead we failed to maintain the lead and unfortunately could not close the match,” Guardiola said.
“Today we didn't make the right decisions in the last third. I felt like we didn't make the right decisions in the last third to close the game.”
City's next Premier League match sees them travel to Portman Road to take on Ipswich Town, who play Brighton on Thursday.
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