The Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola defends his decision against Real Madrid. The City boss substituted some of his standout players – specifically Kevin De Bruyne, Manuel Akanji, and Erling Haaland – during the closing stages of the match. And amid the backlash from a segment of fans regarding this move, He said those players claimed that they couldn’t continue playing.
Manchester City’s hope of securing another treble were dashed at the Etihad on Wednesday. Despite their complete domination over their opponents throughout the entirety of the match, the Cityzens were unable to overcome their stubborn visitors.
The match ended in a 1-1 draw after both regular and extra time, Kevin De Bruyne equalized Rodrygo’s early goal. Pep Guardiola’s squad was unable to convert two penalty kicks during the shootout, while Real Madrid missed only one. As a result of this outcome, the fourteen-time Champions League winners advanced to the semi-finals alongside Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, and Paris Saint Germain.
Regarding the match, Pep Guardiola justified his choice to substitute certain players and asserted that they communicated their fatigue and desire to be relieved.
“Erling [Haaland] and Kevin [De Bruyne] and Manu [Akanji] asked me to go out. They could not continue,” Pep said during his post-match conference.
Manchester City Midfielder Claims They Deserves To Go Through
Undoubtedly, the Cityzens proved to be superior throughout the match. Pep Guardiola’s men exhibited their dominance over their opponents and were unfortunate not to clinch victory. As a result of this impressive performance, Rodri is convinced that they deserve to advance to the semi-finals.
The Spanish international has emerged as a pivotal figure for Pep Guardiola’s squad, earning the privilege of being benched last weekend against Luton Town in order to ensure he was fit for the Real Madrid fixture. As anticipated, his commanding presence in midfield was palpable; however, despite his valiant efforts, Man City ultimately fell short of progressing to the next round.
Speaking after the match, he said: “I saw only one team today, to be honest. They defended and they knew how to suffer and we know how tough Real Madrid is. But, in my opinion, we should go through, in terms of chances and everything. It’s the trickiness of the competition. They know how to play, congratulations to them.”
What Next For Pep Guardiola And His Boys
Manchester City will continue their campaign in the Emirate FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea this upcoming weekend. With their recent setback in the Champions League, they will be looking to redirect their focus towards clinching victory in the remaining competitions.
Both teams have faced each other twice during this campaign, resulting in two draws. However, the upcoming match must have a winner as both sides strive to secure a spot in the competition’s final.