Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola got blamed for the Champions League exit against Real Madrid on Thursday. Many Manchester City faithful even called the club’s board to sack the Spanish manager after yet another failure in the Champions League.
Despite the Champions League semi-final defeat, Manchester City have enjoyed a decent season in the league up till now. The club currently sit on top of the Premier league table. They have picked up 83 points from 34 league games so far this term.
The Manchester side went into the second leg of the Champions League with a one-goal advantage. They secured a 4-3 win at home in the first leg of the semi-final. The Mancunian side dominated proceedings at the Santiago Bernabéu and even increased their goal advantage to two with Riyad Mahrez scoring in the 73rd minute.
Pep Guardiola took off Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez for Fernandinho and İlkay Gündoğan and went quite defensive. While Carlo Ancelotti brought on Eduardo Camavinga and Rodrygo. Carlo Ancelotti’s substitutions paid off as Rodrygo scored in the 90th minute and the 91st minute. Karim Benzema converted from the spot in extra time to hand the Spanish side the victory.
Pep Guardiola was also balmed by the Manchester City faithful after he opted not to start a defensive midfielder for the Champions League final loss against Chelsea last term. While he has been trolled massively for overthinking his team selection for important Champions League ties in the past.
“Guardiola suffocates teams and players to make their own decisions.”: Ex-Liverpool midfielder Didi Hamann on Pep Guardiola
Ex-Liverpool midfielder Didi Hamann talking to Sky Sports about Manchester City’s Champions League defeat and Pep Guardiola. He said:
“If you give players responsibility they act responsibly. If you try to play the game for them they won’t,”
“Guardiola suffocates teams and players to make their own decisions. Compare that to Carlo Ancelotti or Jurgen Klopp teams.” “It was really heartbreaking (for Man City), they led over the two legs for most of the time.”
“But then again, they conceded five goals when Real Madrid hardly had a chance. Ederson only made four saves in the two legs.” “I always feel with Guardiola’s teams that he kind of takes the responsibility off them, and you can’t win games on a tactic board. Once the whistle goes, you have to make decisions and not for the first time, his teams made the wrong decisions at the wrong time,” he added.
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