Manchester City head coach, Pep Guardiola, has expressed deep frustration following their 3-2 defeat to Real Madrid in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League play-off at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night.
In what was a thrilling encounter, City twice took the lead against the defending champions.
Erling Haaland opened the scoring for the hosts before Kylian Mbappe equalized for Madrid. Haaland struck again, seemingly setting City on course for a vital victory.
However, the drama unfolded in the final moments. Former City academy player Brahim Diaz leveled for Real Madrid, and Jude Bellingham completed the stunning comeback with a stoppage-time winner, giving the Spanish giants a slender but significant advantage ahead of next week’s return leg at the Bernabeu.
Reflecting on the late collapse, Guardiola admitted it was difficult to see all the hard work undone in the dying moments.
“It’s the fourth time we played in a row against Madrid here and in the three previous we were much, much better than them but today was tight and in certain times they had chances and Ederson was our best player,” Pep said.
“Sometimes it happens that a team is better and the result doesn’t work.
“I think they started well for 15 minutes and after we took the game and we were really good with the ball.
“In the second half, we could not make the passes that we needed to play. We wanted to attack so quickly but when we attack so quick with the strikers that they have it’s more difficult.
“After it was 2-1 but it happened too much this season. In many games it happened, against Feyenoord, Sporting Lisbon, Brentford in the Premier League, Man United—many games we gave away.
“We have to look at ourselves and at this level it’s so difficult. It’s not the first time unfortunately it happened many times and that’s why it’s so difficult.”
Despite the result, Guardiola commended his players’ overall performance and acknowledged that there were positive aspects to take from the game.
“There are many good things. We know who we are playing. But the result is what it is and that is why we’re here,” Guardiola continued.
“Of course, we did many good things but things can improve.
“Always I give credit to the opponent for the quality that they have. But when you arrive at the result at the end it’s tough.
“It happens many times and for the players it’s difficult.
“I think about how they suffered, because they did everything, but we are not able to be solid with decision making in certain moments.”
City will now head to Madrid with the challenge of overturning the deficit in what promises to be an intense and decisive second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu.
