Madrid (AP) – Pep Guardiola has to recover from the memorable knockout in the Champions League.
Yes, it feels cruel, said the Spaniard after Manchester City lost in the semi-finals of the premier class due to the 3-1 defeat after extra time at Real Madrid. “It’s tough for us. We can’t deny that,” emphasized Guardiola, who also lost the duel between the highly decorated star coaches and the Italian Carlo Ancelotti.
With an unbelievable effort, the Madrilenians had turned a 0-1 lead into a 2-1 shortly before the end and thus saved themselves into extra time. Once again, France’s star striker Karim Benzema scored the decisive goal. The Citizens won the first leg in Manchester 4:3.
“Now we need time to let that sink in,” stressed Guardiola. He will only experience the final on May 28 between Real and Manchester’s league rivals Liverpool with German coach Jürgen Klopp as a spectator. The important game in the title fight against Newcastle United for champions Manchester in the Premier League is already on Sunday. “One or two days – but we will get up again. We have to,” emphasized Guardiola (51).
“Pep Guardiola has found some extraordinary ways to lose key Champions League games in his six years as Manchester City manager,” wrote the tabloid The Sun. “But none of them drove the former Barcelona boss nearly as mad as he did this.” Guardiola will be haunted by this “surrender for the rest of his life,” said the Telegraph.