Providing insight into Real Madrid’s UEFA Champions League quarter-final triumph over Manchester City, Pep Guardiola expressed his perspective on the outcome.
Watching as Real Madrid emerged victorious in a penalty shoot-out at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night, Guardiola reflected on the match.
The quarter-final second leg fixture saw a 1-1 draw, with goals from Rodrygo and Kevin De Bruyne contributing to the result.
Both teams had previously played to a 3-3 draw at the Santiago Bernabeu.
In his post-match interview, Guardiola attributed Madrid’s success to their deep defensive strategy, noting a shift from previous seasons.
The City manager acknowledged that his team failed to capitalize on their chances, despite putting forth their best effort.
“Real Madrid deserves congratulations for their solid defensive display,” Guardiola remarked.
“We left everything on the field. I have no regrets about our performance,” he added.
Reflecting on the match dynamics, Guardiola commented on the quality of Madrid’s goals and transitions, emphasizing the challenges at the elite level of competition.
“Our tactical approach was comprehensive, both defensively and offensively,” Guardiola highlighted.
“While we generated opportunities, we fell short in converting them. It’s the nature of football. Real Madrid executed better than us,” he admitted.
Looking back at previous encounters with Real Madrid, Guardiola noted the defensive adjustments made by the Spanish side, which posed a challenge for City.
“To beat a team like Real Madrid, we needed to deliver a top-tier performance. Despite our best efforts, it wasn’t sufficient this time,” Guardiola concluded.