PEP Guardiola told his Manchester City players to hold their heads high after drawing with RB Leipzig in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

City had to settle for a 1-1 draw in Germany after dominating the first half, with Riyad Mahrez’s 27th-minute strike the sole reward for their total supremacy in the opening period.

The second half was a different affair with chances at both ends, and Josko Gvardiol’s header 20 minutes from time restored parity before the second leg at the Etihad Stadium on March 14.

Prior to that, Premier League champions City head to Vitality Stadium on Saturday, to face Cherries (5.30pm).

City manager Guardiola strode on to the pitch at the final whistle in Leipzig and spoke to his players in a huddle, telling reporters later: “Their heads were down. I said ‘why are your heads down?’

“I said ‘get your heads up – it was really good. (If) people don’t like it, it doesn’t matter. You played the game you should play’.”

Guardiola said Leipzig, who had lost once in 20 games, should be respected by the media for their achievements both at home and abroad.

He said: “I had the feeling that the game would be decided in the second leg.

“Normally there is one misconception in football that, after the way we played the first half, people are going to say ‘how bad was the second half?’

“But why can’t you think Leipzig is a good team? They beat Real Madrid here, were much, much, much better than Bayern Munich in the second half.

“I have a lot of respect for Leipzig. Always you (the press) talk about how bad one team is.

“Why not talk about how good the other one is? We have had four games in 10 days and the Arsenal one was really tough.

“We have had injured players and I am so delighted with the game we have played.”

Guardiola chose not to make any substitutions at all, despite admitting that he considered sending on England midfielder Phil Foden during the second half.

They were also without both Kevin De Bruyne and Aymeric Laporte due to illness.

But City re-established control after Gvardiol’s equaliser, with Ilkay Gundogan going close to snatching a winner before a late penalty appeal for handball was waved away.

“I was really pleased with what I was seeing,” said Guardiola. “Maybe in the second leg I will decide to be crazy and play with nine strikers!"

City have now drawn two successive matches, having also been held 1-1 by Nottingham Forest at the weekend.