Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola acknowledged that his team is no longer at the extraordinary level they once were after their painful 6-3 aggregate defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League knockout stage. A devastating hat-trick from Kylian Mbappe sealed City’s fate, marking another disappointment in what has been a challenging season.
City, who are currently fourth in the Premier League and a massive 17 points behind the leaders, have struggled to replicate the dominance that saw them win multiple league titles and last season’s historic treble. Their latest European exit raises further questions about the team’s form and future direction.
“We were extraordinarily extraordinary in the past, but not anymore,” Guardiola admitted in his post-match press conference. “We have had some incredible years, but this season, things have not gone our way. The defeat at home was hard to take, and this one is even harder. But Real Madrid are a fantastic team, and we have to accept that.”
Despite the disappointment, Guardiola emphasized that there is still much to fight for. “We still have 14 games left this season, and we must focus on finishing as strongly as possible. The Premier League and FA Cup are still within our reach, and we must ensure that we qualify for next season’s Champions League.”
Guardiola also pointed to the absence of star striker Erling Haaland as a key setback. The Norwegian forward, who suffered a knee injury in the previous game against Newcastle, was unable to play. “Erling tried to train yesterday, but he was in a lot of pain from the challenge against Newcastle. He struggled even with simple movements like walking and going up and down stairs. This morning, he told me he wasn’t ready. He wanted to help, but in his condition, it wasn’t the best option.”
The City boss acknowledged Real Madrid’s quality and admitted that his team struggled to contain them. “We weren’t able to stop Mbappe, and the better team won. Madrid deserved it. We’ve done well in the Champions League in previous seasons, but this time we weren’t at our best. They were more physical, more dynamic, and pressed high up the pitch. We need to learn from this and improve for the future.”
Guardiola remained optimistic despite the setback, insisting that his squad will regroup and come back stronger. “There’s no time to dwell on this defeat. We have to move forward, finish the season well, and come back better next year.”
