Manchester City’s Champions League campaign took an unexpected blow on Tuesday night as a flat performance at the Etihad ended in a 2-0 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen.
Much of the frustration from supporters has fallen squarely on the shoulders of Brazilian winger Savinho.
The 21-year-old, brought in to add energy and unpredictability to Pep Guardiola’s front line, endured a difficult evening in a match that demanded composure and precision.
Instead, the German side executed a disciplined, incisive plan that left the Premier League giants looking short of ideas and uncharacteristically vulnerable.
Goals from Alejandro Grimaldo in the 23rd minute and Patrik Schick early in the second half were enough to secure all three points for Xabi Alonso’s side.
City struggled to create clear chances, but Savinho’s performance against Leverkusen attracted the strongest backlash online from fans who felt the youngster offered little threat and struggled to influence the game in key moments.
Fans turn on Savinho after disappointing display
Despite completing the full 90 minutes, Savinho’s performance against Leverkusen will likely invite internal scrutiny as well as external criticism.
According to data from FotMob, the winger completed only four of his nine attempted dribbles (44%), found a teammate with just one of six crosses (17%), and failed to hit the target with his only shot of the match.
For a player whose main assets are supposed to be ball-carrying and creativity, it was a night where nothing seemed to connect.
The reaction from supporters after full-time was immediate and unforgiving.
Many fans took to X (formerly Twitter) to express disappointment, with some calling for the forward to be dropped, while others questioned whether he should remain part of Guardiola’s long-term plans.
User @a_yushsinha13 did not mince words, writing: “That’s a low for us guys. Keep Savinho with the u23’s for 2-3 weeks, guy really needs to work on a lot of things. We move on, but this one stings.”
That sentiment was echoed across dozens of posts as frustration swelled online. Some comments expressed anger, while others were tinged with resignation.
@stvrfreezie exclaimed, “Put Savinho on the transfer list tonight, I’m DONE!!!”
@Emerald_mf wrote, “Savinho please leave my club.”
@BoredCityFan claimed, “I’m not watching a game again when Savinho starts.”
@CalvinCoza added, “It’s very painful watching Savinho.”
@MCFC_Jacky wrote, “I hope the Savinho supporters are hiding after this shameful performance.”
@ewan10i asserted, “Genuine 0/10 Savinho performance. It’s nearly December and we’ve not seen even 1 moment that’s made me think that we were right not to sell him.”
@MCIKevn wrote, “Savinho cracks me up man. He’s genuinely bad with passion.”
@DxBruyneSZN added, “Savinho actually makes my brain rot. His end product is genuinely worst I’ve ever seen.”
@City_Chief commented, “Savinho is Leverkusen’s best player.”
While online reactions are often extreme after defeats, the volume and intensity of criticism following this match showed a growing impatience with the winger, who has yet to find consistent form in a City shirt.
A difficult start to the season raises deeper questions
For Guardiola, the challenge now is to decide how best to guide the Brazilian through a difficult stretch without derailing his development or affecting the team’s broader rhythm.
Signed for his raw ability and long-term potential, Savinho was never expected to be the finished product upon arrival, but there was hope he would provide energy and unpredictability in wide areas. Instead, his contributions this season have been limited.
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Across all competitions, Savinho has managed just one goal and two assists in 15 appearances, eight of them starts.
Those numbers, while not disastrous for a young player adapting to a demanding system, have been overshadowed by moments of poor decision-making in the final third and an apparent struggle to adjust to the pace of elite European football.
Inside the Etihad, frustration grew as Leverkusen repeatedly cut out attempted dribbles and counter-attacks down Savinho’s flank.
With Rayan Cherki and other attacking options available, his place in Guardiola’s preferred starting lineup is far from secure.
