‘Nothing lasts forever’ as Pep Guardiola laments ‘worst’ Man City season

MADRID – Manager Pep Guardiola conceded Manchester City need a rebuild after being swept aside by a Kylian Mbappe hat-trick on Feb 19, as Real Madrid progressed to the last 16 of the Champions League 6-3 on aggregate.

Mbappe fired the 15-time winners to a 3-1 second-leg win – with Nico Gonzalez scoring for Guardiola’s men – but much of the damage had already been done for City by conceding two late goals to lose the home leg 3-2 on Feb 11.

It is the third time in four seasons that City have been knocked out by the Spanish giants, but the first time since Guardiola joined in 2016 that the English champions have failed to reach the last 16.

“The better team won,” the City boss told Spanish TV station Movistar.

“We have had a bad year in the competition. If you finish 22nd (in the league phase), it is because we haven’t been right. It has been our worst year. We have been extraordinarily extraordinary in the past, but not any more.”

Injuries have played a significant part in the team’s struggles this season.

Erling Haaland did not get off the bench at the Santiago Bernabeu due to a knee injury, while John Stones had to be replaced inside the first 10 minutes.

City’s consolation goal came thanks to two of their January signings as Gonzalez tapped in after Omar Marmoush’s free kick came back off the crossbar.

Guardiola said the rebuild had already begun as City spent £176.1 million (S$297.3 million) on bringing Marmoush, Gonzalez, Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis to the club during the mid-season transfer window.

“Nothing lasts forever and, in the group, there are players that have marked an era,” he added.

“We cannot deny what this group of players have done, winning six Premier Leagues in seven years... In Europe always getting to the quarter-finals, semi-finals, final.

“It says a lot about what we have done (but) we will have to think about (rebuilding).”

Real have gone on to win the competition each time they have beaten City in the past four years and Guardiola also believes this version of Carlo Ancelotti’s men is the best he has faced.

“This year, we faced the best Madrid,” he admitted.

“They are better because they are able to have the ball for long spells, can run, can defend well with a high line when they want, but also defend well with men behind the ball. You have to congratulate them.”

Ancelotti, meanwhile, heaped praised on Mbappe and said the France forward had the potential to reach the same level as Cristiano Ronaldo, who is Real’s all-time leading scorer with 451 goals in 438 games.

“He has the quality to reach his numbers, but he has to work, because Cristiano set the bar very high, but he is so excited to play here, he can reach Cristiano’s level,” the Italian said.

“Everyone was waiting for this hat-trick from him. But Mbappe is not the only one, we have many players who make a difference. And they make a difference with their collective work above their individual quality which is remarkable.”

Ancelotti lamented that his side had to go through the pain of the play-off round, but said that they were to blame after a slow start to the campaign that caused them to finish outside the top eight in the league standings.

The holders will next face Bayer Leverkusen or city rivals Atletico Madrid, depending on the draw on Feb 21, as they seek a record-extending 16th title.

“It’s not positive at all having to go through the knockout because we had to play 10 games to get to the last 16,” Ancelotti added.

“We’re not coming out of a difficult period, we’re entering one because this is when the real season starts. There is no way to stop, to rest. But on an emotional level, sure, this tie has been good for us. Let’s keep rolling.” AFP, REUTERS