Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has admitted that his team is going through its toughest season after being eliminated from the Champions League by Real Madrid. The Spanish side, led by Kylian Mbappe’s hat-trick, secured a 3-1 victory in the second leg, sealing a 6-3 aggregate win to advance to the last 16.
City’s struggles in the competition were apparent even before their trip to Madrid. In the first leg at the Etihad Stadium, they conceded two late goals, suffering a 3-2 defeat. Their early exit this season is particularly disappointing as it marks the first time since Guardiola took charge in 2016 that City have failed to reach the last 16.
“The better team won,” Guardiola told Movistar. “We have had a bad year in the competition. If you finish 22nd, it is because we haven’t been right. It has been our worst year.”
Manchester City barely made it through the league phase, finishing 22nd in the expanded 36-team format. Injuries have also played a role in their struggles. Star striker Erling Haaland remained on the bench at the Santiago Bernabeu due to a knee issue, while John Stones was forced off in the opening minutes of the game.
City’s only goal of the night came from January signing Nico Gonzalez, who tapped in after Omar Marmoush’s free-kick hit the crossbar. Guardiola noted that the team has already started rebuilding, having spent £170 million ($214 million) in the winter transfer window to sign Marmoush, Gonzalez, Abdukodir Khusanov, and Vitor Reis.
“It is normal. Nothing lasts forever and in the group there are players that have marked an era,” Guardiola said.
Despite the disappointing season, Guardiola acknowledged the achievements of his squad in recent years, including winning six Premier League titles in the last seven seasons.
Real Madrid have knocked City out of the Champions League three times in the past four years, each time going on to win the tournament. Guardiola admitted that this current Madrid side, under Carlo Ancelotti, is the strongest he has faced.
“This year we faced the best Madrid. In the previous ones, going through or not, we were very good,” he said.
