Julius Okorie
Pep Guardiola has confessed that Manchester City are not stable at the moment and risk exiting the Champions League, after losing first leg play-off to Real Madrid Tuesday night. He resisted the temptation to single out anyone for blame over the defeat saying, “All of us’ are to blame for Manchester City letting a 2-1 lead slip against Real Madrid in the Champions League.”
Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham struck a last-gasp winner to give the Champions League holders a 3-2 victory over Manchester City at the Ethihad Stadium. City led twice through Erling Haaland but failed to retain the momentum, thus making the return leg in Madrid on February 19, a harder nut to crack.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelErling Haaland put City ahead in each half in a thrilling contest but the Champions League holders replied through Kylian Mbappe and substitute, Brahim Diaz.
Both sides hit the woodwork in a game of numerous chances but it was England International, Jude Bellingham, who had the final say in stoppage time.
It is the fourth season in succession the sides have been paired in the knockout stages, with the stage set for another epic clash in the return leg at the Bernabeu in eight days’ time.
“I don’t know how to put it into words straight away, it’s so raw and frustrating for everyone,” Stones said.
“We were in the game until so late and then it’s two situations that happen and we concede. It’s frustrating as a defender to come away with that result.
“It’s a feeling of anger and frustration.
“We need to see games out better. The manager said we need to take accountability for what we do on the pitch, I think we do that. We need to step up when these bad moments happen.
Guardiola who had named five centre-backs in his starting selection in an attempt to nullify Real’s attacking threat, bemoaned ‘bad decision making’ as City twice made mistakes that led to goals.
Ederson was at fault for Diaz’s leveller, while substitute, Rico Lewis, was culpable as Bellingham snatched a last-gasp winner.
Guardiola’s side have failed to win any of their last four Champions League games in which they’ve scored first, and have now conceded 57 goals in 38 games in all competitions this season, already three more than the entirety of last term.
READ ALSO:Champions League Play-offs: Manchester City, Real Madrid In Tough Duel
“Players take decisions in the moment, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t,” Guardiola said.
“Today the composure to manage the situations we do not have, it’s been many, many times. So reflect, think, and maybe in the future it’s not going to happen. Be brave, and go forward for the next games.
“Today was tight. I’m quite honest with myself, today we have chances and play quite good with the ball, the association they had was higher than the past [games], but in the moments we should have the situation recovered we could not manage it. We arrive in the last minute with a good result and could not keep it.
“I’ve been here for many years and been part of an extraordinary team, an incredible machine, but in the moment I’m not able to give something to the team to manage these situations. That’s the truth.
“Blame belongs to all of us, I do not have a problem to accept it does not work like it worked in the past. It would be easy to blame one player, that is ridiculous, it doesn’t work. It’s all of us, me first. The truth is that we are not stable enough in these moments.”
Manchester City fans had attempted to use outcome of the last Ballon d’Or result to distablise Real Madrid, but the act crumbled like a pack of cards.
The visiting side were greeted by a huge flag prior to Tuesday’s play-off first leg at the Etihad Stadium poking fun at the Brazilian’s runners-up finish to City midfielder Rodri in the voting for last year’s Ballon d’Or award and Real’s boycott of the ceremony.
Vinicius Junior claimed he was fired up by Manchester City’s fans’ banner after playing a starring role in Real Madrid’s dramatic victory at the Etihad Stadium.
The banner, which Guardiola claimed he did not see, displayed a huge picture of Rodri kissing his trophy alongside the message ‘Stop Crying Your Heart Out’ – a song title by City-supporting band Oasis.
Yet it was Real who had the last laugh as the banner backfired badly, with Vinicius enjoying a superb game as the Spaniards twice came from behind to win 3-2.
Vinicius told Movistar: “I saw it, I saw the banner. Whenever the opposing fans do things like that they give me more strength to have a great game and here I have done it.”
For The Records: See Jude Bellingham’s 90th-minute winners for Real Madrid:
*90+2’ Man City 3-2
*90+5’ Valencia 2-1
*90+1’ Barcelona 3-2
*90+2’ Barcelona 2-1
*90+4’ Union Berlin 1-0
*90+5’ Getafe 2-1
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
