‘It’s their history!’ – Pep Guardiola after Real Madrid stun Manchester City in Champions League semi-final
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/placeholder/eurosport_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
ByEurosport
Published 05/05/2022 at 07:17 GMT
Real Madrid have a history of applying pressure and scoring late, crucial goals – that is according to Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola. The Spanish club produced one of the great Champions League comebacks to defeat Manchester City 3-1 after extra-time at the Bernabeu to progress to the final 6-5 on aggregate.
'They've done it so many times in their history' - Guardiola after Man City crash out to Real
Pep Guardiola pointed to Real Madrid’s history of scoring late goals in the Champions League as he processed his side’s stunning loss to Real Madrid in the Champions League final.
With Madrid a goal down on the night – and two on aggregate – Rodrygo scored a quick-fire, late brace with strikes in the 89th and 91st minutes to send the tie to extra-time, where Karim Benzema’s penalty – in the 94th minute – sealed an improbable win.
And in his post-match press conference, Guardiola said that his side would need a few days to process the loss, adding that comebacks of that nature were in Madrid’s history.
“We need one or two days, but we will rise, we will come up,” Guardiola said.
"I had defeats in the Champions League before. Always I had defeats that were so tough - like Barcelona against Chelsea, when both games were exceptional, and we could not reach the final.
"And yeah, it's tough for us, so we cannot deny it. So, we were so close to arriving at the Champions League final."
Guardiola pointed to a late miss from Jack Grealish as a crucial moment in the context of the tie.
"Before the first goal for Real Madrid, we had two chances, especially one so clear with Jack Grealish," he added. "And in that moment we didn't have the feeling that we were in trouble for the way they attacked.
"So, they score a goal at the end, and yeah, they have done it many times in their history. And they put a lot of players in the box with [Eder] Militao, with everyone, four strikers plus Militao they put there, and they found the goals."
Madrid – who sealed a 35th Liga title over the weekend – will now face Liverpool in the showpiece final in Paris.
Man City now turn their attentions to the visit of Newcastle on Sunday as they seek to defend their Premier League title with Liverpool just a point behind.
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article