Manchester City Must Accept Football's Madness: Pep Guardiola

Pep Guardiola, manager of Manchester City, attributed his team’s latest Champions League defeat to the unpredictable nature of the sport, following Real Madrid’s remarkable late comeback to reach the final.

City led 1-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu on the night and 5-3 on aggregate heading into the 90th minute until substitute Rodrygo scored twice in 88 seconds to send the game into extra time.

He then scored the winner from the penalty spot to send 13-time champions Real Madrid to face Liverpool in the final on May 28 in Paris.

As for City, the club’s Abu Dhabi-based owners have put a lot of money into them over the last 14 years, but they still haven’t won European Championships yet.

Before and after Riyad Mahrez’s goal 17 minutes from time, Guardiola’s team had a lot of chances to score.

The players feel the pressure in a semi-final and want to do well. “We didn’t play our best, but that’s normal because the players feel the pressure in a semi-final and want to do well.”

READ MORE: Real Madrid stuns Manchester City to reach the Champions League final

“When it comes to football, things can happen. We have to deal with it.”

Madrid also had to come back at the Bernabeu to beat Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea in the last two rounds.

But before Rodrygo’s goal, the Spanish champions had not even fired a shot on goal.

The Brazilian rose above everyone else to score a header in the first minute of extra time.

“Better after we scored the goal. We learned how to play our game and set the pace, and the players felt at ease. “Guardiola was added to the list of people.

“It’s not like they have been attacking and attacking in the last 10 minutes, and you have been hurt. Not at all! Five players came into the box, including (Eder) Milito and Vinicius Junior. They put crosses in and scored two goals.”

To avoid ending the season without a trophy for the first time in five years, City must quickly get through another painful European exit.

As of now, there are four games left in the Premier League. The English champions have a one-point lead over Liverpool at the top.

There are still four games left for Pep Guardiola’s team. “Now we need time to think about it and come back with our people at home and our last four games,” he said.