Pep Guardiola’s Frustration After Champions League Exit

After Manchester City’s early departure from the Champions League, manager Pep Guardiola displayed his frustration during a television interview, especially in light of Kylian Mbappé’s performance with Real Madrid. When asked why top striker Erling Haaland did not play in the 1-3 playoff second leg in Madrid, Guardiola sharply replied, „Do you think he wouldn’t play if he were fit? Thank you for the question.“ Haaland had to watch from the sidelines due to knee issues.

What Haaland witnessed from the bench was a struggling Manchester City side that could not cope with Mbappé’s brilliance. Midfielder Bernardo Silva commented, „What we showed here was simply insufficient. We need to find a solution to go all out next year because we are a strong team; we are City.“

Crisis for Manchester City

Despite having the financial might to acquire some of the best players in the world, City is not immune to a deep-seated crisis. The club’s only realistic title chance now lies in the FA Cup, as they trail far behind Liverpool in the Premier League. In addition to Haaland, City also felt the absence of key midfielder Rodri, who has been out injured for months, and defender John Stones had to leave the match early due to injury. Silva insisted that injuries should not serve as an excuse.

Guardiola now faces the challenge of uplifting the team, but doubts about his capability are growing. His statement before the second leg, claiming Manchester City’s chances of progressing after a 2-3 loss in the first leg were just „one percent,“ likely fueled this skepticism. The mocking chants of „Pep stay, Pep stay“ from Real Madrid fans during the match further marred his return to Spain.

Mbappé’s Stellar Performance

In contrast, Mbappé felt a sense of belonging at Real Madrid after his standout performance against City. He expressed his desire to make a mark this season, stating, „I want to play well here; I want to leave my stamp on the season. I want to make history with Real Madrid. The acclimatization phase is over for me, and now I need to show my quality.“

When asked whether he preferred to face Bayer Leverkusen or city rivals Atlético Madrid in the Round of 16, Mbappé pragmatically noted, “Both are very good teams, but I’d prefer to play against Atlético, as we wouldn’t have to travel! We already have to travel a lot.” The draw for the next round is set to take place on Friday.