LONDON – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was gracious in defeat after dreams of a historic second successive treble were dashed by a stubborn Real Madrid on April 17, in a Champions League quarter-final game the English club had thoroughly commanded.
Following a 1-1 draw on the night which meant it was 4-4 on aggregate, Real held on to dispatch the holders 4-3 in a shoot-out at the Etihad Stadium to secure their semi-final berth against Bayern Munich.
It was sweet revenge after City ousted the Spanish side in last season’s semi-finals on their way to winning their first title.
“Congratulations to Real Madrid, they defend so deep, with incredible solidarity,” Guardiola, 53, said.
“We did everything. I have no regrets about what we’ve done. Defensively, offensively, we played exceptional in all departments, in everything, and unfortunately, we couldn’t win, so that’s what it is.”
After capturing their first treble – the English Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup titles – last season, City appeared on track to become the first team in history to claim the three trophies in back-to-back years.
But despite completely dominating Real, firing 34 shots to the Spanish giants’ eight and taking 18 corners to just one for the visitors, Guardiola’s men could not finish them off.
Kevin de Bruyne scored in the 76th minute to cancel out Rodrygo’s 12th-minute goal, but both the Belgian and City’s goalscoring machine Erling Haaland squandered several chances.
Victory looked in City’s hands when Luka Modric failed to convert Real’s opening spot kick. But momentum swung when Bernardo Silva shot straight into goalkeeper Andriy Lunin’s hands, leaving Nacho and Antonio Rudiger to seal the win for Real.
Despite the heartbreak, City fans serenaded the team off the Etihad pitch.
“Football is about scoring goals and, from the penalty spot, they did it a bit better than us. The performance and the commitment, and everything was exceptional,” Guardiola added.
“With penalties, you win some, you lose some. For the way we played, we should have done it... But we did not convert the chances we had. We performed to our best, but it was not good enough.”
City now switch their focus to the quest for another FA Cup title on April 20 when they clash with Chelsea in the semi-finals at Wembley.
Asked how he will lift his players before another crucial match, Guardiola said: “We’ll see tomorrow. Now it’s rest. It’s the semi-final of the FA Cup, we will try to compete the best we can.”
City also have a two-point lead at the top of the Premier League with six games remaining.
Real coach Carlo Ancelotti, meanwhile, was beaming with pride, especially with his defence.
“I love it when a team gives their all and sacrifices everything in big games like this one. I believe that there was no other way to beat Manchester City here.
“I’m proud of what we did. You work, sacrifice and win however you can,” he said.
“We defended really, really well tonight. This was about survival. Madrid is a club based on always fighting to stay in situations where there seems to be no way out – but we always find a way.”
Ancelotti also appreciated that Guardiola was a good loser, despite the frustration of seeing his team control 64 per cent of possession but fail to win.
“Pep Guardiola is a gentleman, always has been. He congratulated us, wished us good luck and that’s what a real gent does,” the 64-year-old Italian said.
Real’s English midfielder Jude Bellingham was exhausted but elated after their defensive masterclass.
He said: “You put so much into the game. I’ve played against City before and they snatch it away from you. I was pretty much dead on my feet at the end.” REUTERS
