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MADRID. — Pep Guardiola says Manchester City must “process” their remarkable Champions League football semi-final loss to Real Madrid on Wednesday night and “come back” as they look to defend their English Premier League title.
Pep Guardiola put his side’s latest Champions League collapse down to the unpredictability of football after Real Madrid produced a stunning late fightback to reach the final.
City had a final spot snatched away from them in Spain as Real scored twice in stoppage-time and again in extra-time to come back from two goals down.
City led 1-0 on the night at the Santiago Bernabeu and 5-3 on aggregate heading into the 90th minute before two goals in 88 seconds from substitute Rodrygo sent the game to extra-time.
Karim Benzema then slotted home the winner from the penalty spot to send the 13-time winners into the final against Liverpool on May 28 in Paris.
City on the other hand are still waiting to be crowned European champions despite the billions invested by the club’s Abu Dhabi-based owners over the past 14 years.
Guardiola’s men were left to rue a series of missed chances both in the first leg at the Etihad and after Riyad Mahrez had fired them into the lead 17 minutes from time on Wednesday night.
City lead Liverpool by a point in the league and face Newcastle on Sunday.
We didn’t play our best, but it is normal, in a semi-final, the players feel the pressure and wanting to do it,” Guardiola told BT Sport.
“Football is unpredictable, it is a game like this. We have to accept it.”
“It is tough for us, I cannot deny,” Guardiola said of Wednesday’s loss.
“We were so close to the Champions League final.
“Now we need to process that and come back, with our people at home and in the last four games we have.”
In one of the finest knockout ties in Champions League history, City looked to be emerging victorious after Mahrez’s goal gave them a 5-3 lead in the tie.
But two goals from substitute Rodrygo in stoppage-time for a Real side who had previously not had a shot on target levelled it up before Benzema’s penalty won it for the Spanish side in extra-time.
“In the first half we did not have (the) game, we were not good enough. But we did not suffer much,” Guardiola told BT Sport.
“After we scored the goal we were better. We found our tempo and our game and the players were comfortable.
“It is not like in the last 10 minutes they attack and attack and you suffer. It didn’t happen.
“They put a lot of players in the box, with Eder Militao, Rodrygo, Vinicius Junior, Karim Benzema and they put in crosses and scored two goals.
“We didn’t play our best, but it is normal, a semi-final, the players feel the pressure and wanting to do it. Football is unpredictable, it is a game like this. We have to accept it.”
Guardiola has won the Champions League twice as a manager — at Barcelona in 2008-09 and 2010-11.
Since he joined City in 2016, they have been knocked out in the quarter-finals three times and reached their first final last season, losing to Chelsea.
City’s attention now turns back to the English Premier League title race, with Liverpool — the side they would have faced in the Champions League final had they got there — their challengers.
The Reds face Tottenham tomorrow evening, the day before City’s game with Newcastle.
With the lead at the top so tight with just four games to go, pundits have questioned just how much Wednesday’s loss may affect the reigning English champions.
“It is such a distressing loss,” former England defender Jonathan Woodgate told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“What ramifications does that have on the league? They could blow up after this.”
Former Manchester City defender Joleon Lescott told BT Sport: “You have to be a bit lucky.
“We have seen Manchester City fall at this hurdle before.
“There is still a lot to play for. The fans have to play a part on Sunday, they have to lift this team.
“It’s been a long time since Pep Guardiola won the Champions League the first time, so I am sure this will be devastating for him.”— BBC Sport.
Online Reporter