Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola put his side’s latest Champions League slump down to the instability of football following Real Madrid made a stunning late fightback to reach the final.
City cruised 1-0 on the night at the Santiago Bernabeu and 5-3 on aggregate leading into the 90th minute ahead of 2 goals in 88 seconds from substitute Rodrygo sent the clash to extra time.
Karim Benzema then put home the winner from the penalty spot to send the club into the final versus Liverpool on 28th of May in Paris.
Inversely, City are still waiting to be enthroned European champions in spite the billions invested by the club’s Abu Dhabi-based owners over the past 14 years.
Guardiola’s squad were left to regret a series of missed opportunities both in the first leg at the Etihad and following Riyad Mahrez had boosted them into the lead 17 minutes from time.
“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 notified.
“Football is unpredictable, it is a game like this. We have to accept it.”
Madrid also needed recovery at the Bernabeu to see off PSG and Chelsea in the last two rounds.
However, the Spanish champions had not managed even a shot on target until Rodrygo climaxed by snapping home Benzema’s cross.
The Brazilian then augment highest to power home a header in the first minute of stoppage time.
“After we scored the goal we were better. We found out tempo and our game and the players were comfortable,” appended Guardiola.
“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), Benzema and they put in crosses and scored two goals.”
City need to get another sorrowful European withdrawal out of their system swiftly if they are to avoid ending the season trophy less for the first time in five years.
The English champions dominate Liverpool by a point at the top of the Premier League with four matches to spare.
“Now we need to process that and come back with our people at home and the last four games we have,” stated Guardiola.
