Pep Guardiola admitted that Manchester City did not deserve to continue in their Champions League knockout phase playoff-equal game against Real Madrid, after he was defeated 3-1 in the second stage.
Guardiola watched while the Hattrick of Kylian Mbappe gave the title defender a 6-3 total victory and booked their place in the last 16.
For the first time in his management career, Guardiola eliminated his direction from the Champions League prior to the round of 16 (this is his 16th campaign).
It was also the 13th defeat of the season of the season in all competitions, the most ever by one side managed by the Spaniard (which had previously lost 12 in 2019-2020).
City was surpassed in the Bernabeu and registered an expected goals (XG) a total of 1.38 at Madrid's 1.82, where the visitors only registered their first shot in the 75th minute.
“After we had admitted the goal in the first action, we did not defend well, it was increasingly difficult,” Guardiola told TNT Sports. “We have to accept it, the best team has won, so congratulations to Real Madrid. Now we are focusing on the Premier League.
“It is a fantastic team, they deserve to continue. We didn't earn it, it is the first year that we didn't have a good Champions League season.
“We have to accept and fight for the next season to be here again. Of course, Real Madrid Kanshebbers are to win the Champions League, but there are other good teams in the area.”
13 – Tonight was the 13th defeat of Manchester City of the season in all competitions, which is now the most ever by a Pep Guardiola side in a single campaign in his management career. Unparalleled. pic.twitter.com/pqmfli8tzi
– Optajoe (@Optajoe) February 19, 2025
Indeed, Guardiola saw both legs of a Champions League knock -out stage for the third time for the third time.
Two of those losses have come into the hands of Madrid, lost in the semi-final 2013-14 and on Wednesday, together with Liverpool in the quarterfinals 2017-18.
And it is the following weekend from Arne Slot for City this weekend, with both teams who want to respond from their midweek results, after Liverpool was held to a 2-2 draw by Aston Villa on Wednesday.
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