Clearly so disoriented by the night, and the season as a whole, some players of Manchester City were struggling on Wednesday to leave the Santiago Bernabeu. Turn left when the route out was clearly right.
Looking around, a little dazed. Need help to make their way to the team coach. The episode did not do much to dispel the idea that Pep Guardiola leads a number of Golden Oldies during a tour that ended abruptly in Madrid.
Underground, a busker and his purple guitar played the last countdown through Europe – and also played it very nicely – while hundreds on the metro Goten. 'We leave together, but still, it is farewell' is the first rule and this iteration of the city said goodbye to the elite competence in the best cathedral of all, and tries to keep the rhythm of their own hits passively.
How many of them have been on the continent in City shirts for the last time? History says at least a few.
Back in the first season of Guardiola, they lost 3-1 in Monaco in the first knockout rounds who owe more to individual mistakes than the toothless effort against Real Madrid this week, which was more reminiscent of the last grip of Manuel Pellegrini on the same land in the semi -final of 2016.
Guardiola and City responded to Monaco. Four of the starters – Willy Caballero, Gael Clichy, Bacary Sagna, Aleksandr Kolarov – all went in the summer. Claudio Bravo was borrowed from the bank, Jesus Navas left, Yaya Toure Seeder, Pablo Zabaleta received an emotional broadcast. Kelechi Iheanacho went to Leicester City.
That is nine of the team that has a seriously reduced role overboard or a seriously reduced role. It was ruthless, the largest summer transfer window of the summer, and the reaction could have similarities this time. The reasons have changed: in 2017, Guardiola complained privately about a lack of character. Now the problems are obvious: an old midfield, defensive indecision and never ending injuries. And maybe, maybe, a decrease in appetite.
They have lost part of that famous resilience, but new signing sessions can eventually help with that. Abdukodir Khusanov looks, for example, after a beautiful evening against Vinicius Junior. That the 20-year-old Uzbeek has placed a representation of that quality in just a few weeks after the error minutes in his city career against Chelsea suggests that they have a good one.
“Admitting so early, maybe the energy can empty a little,” said Nathan Ake. 'Maybe because there have been many setbacks this season – maybe more than we have been used to.
'It's a new experience for everyone. How we treated it against Real was clearly not good enough. We must ensure that we are more resilient, stronger in those situations when things go against us. '
If Monaco led to nine departure, then there may be comfortable five that will leave this time. The future of Kevin De Bruyne is in the air after he did not get off the couch at Real, Ilkay Gundogan is close to activating an expansion, but the 34-year-old is the kind of individual that would shake hands with friendly hands if the time is good Was, and Ederson will have offers.
Bernardo Silva is immersed, Jack Grealish is more out than in Guardiola, John Stones is injured again. Add Mateo Kovacic and Matheus Nunes to that mix and it is a list.
Not everyone will go. There may be no buyers – AC Milan could choose not to activate the option on the loan from Kyle Walker – and some may see a revival in fortunes that change thinking.
But what is undisputed is that we are now going to Pep 5.0 – the fifth version of the city of Guardiola.
He had the first year, the Pellegrini hangover, then the Centurions/Domestic Treble Gang – with the exciting wing players of Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling, probably the purest side of the game.
After a malaise around Covid, they reinvented themselves with false nines. Letter, it would be the Erling Haaland Treble team.
Team number five is on the road and how Guardiola attacks are interesting. With 13 more games over-where the first home is Liverpool, exactly the same match as immediately after Monaco all those years ago (they then pulled 1-1)-secure the city of Champions League football. They are fourth and on the steering wheel, but the car has come off the road all too often this year.
The tried and tested Hankelaars nowadays and they also have to do beds in a younger harvest – so Khusanov plays a certain choice more often, Omar Marmoush, Nico Gonzalez anchores midfield. That gives the city more a lead over the rebuilding, with four or five probably arriving in the summer.
They now have to look to the future, with only the FA Cup to win and the Club World Cup on the Horizon. The Awkward Club World Cup, which can hardly influence until their start to next season. Potential last-16 opponents in America? Real Madrid. The big unknown is how many of the potential rooms will reach that tournament even in June.
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