Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has expressed that he holds no regrets despite his team’s defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals. Guardiola believes that if his players had capitalized on their opportunities during the second leg at the Etihad Stadium, the outcome might have been different.
In the return leg on Wednesday, April 17, following a 3-3 draw in Spain, Manchester City and Real Madrid ended regulation time and extra time with a 1-1 deadlock, leading to a penalty shootout which Real Madrid won 4-2.
This marks the second time Real Madrid has eliminated Manchester City from the Champions League in their last three encounters. Guardiola observed that Real Madrid adopted a more defensive approach compared to their previous meetings, which contributed to their success.
Acknowledging Real Madrid’s defensive solidity, Guardiola stated, “Congratulations to Real Madrid – they defended so deep with incredible solidarity.” Despite the outcome, Guardiola expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance, emphasizing their efforts both defensively and offensively.
Reflecting on the match, Guardiola commented, “We did everything. I don’t have any regrets about what we have done. Always as managers, we try to create more and concede less in every single game because that helps to win. We did everything, defensively and offensively.”
He also praised his team’s defensive efforts and acknowledged the quality of Real Madrid’s transitions. Guardiola concluded that despite Manchester City’s exceptional performance in all departments, they were unable to secure the victory due to Real Madrid’s effectiveness in scoring goals.
In conclusion, Guardiola emphasized the need for his team to convert their chances and recognized the high level of performance required to compete against a team like Real Madrid. Despite falling short in this instance, Guardiola remained proud of his team’s efforts throughout the match.
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