Man City’s lack of belief and ageing team exposed by ruthless Real Madrid
Source: www.richportaltv.com
Manchester City’s fans started the night by unfurling a huge flag taunting Real Madrid and Vinicius Junior for their angry reaction to Rodri beating the Brazilian to last year’s Ballon d’Or.
‘Stop Crying Your Heart Out’ was the message; the words of the Oasis hit accompanied by an image of Rodri kissing the coveted trophy at the ceremony boycotted by Real in protest at the decision.
Firing barbs at the most ruthless and experienced operators in Champions League history is a dangerous occupation, and so it proved.
All the tears belonged to City and their supporters at the final whistle after a trademark smash-and-grab late surge gave Real a potentially decisive 3-2 advantage after the first leg of this playoff to reach the last 16 of the Champions League.
Real’s relentless, concrete-clad confidence in themselves and street wisdom honed over years of experience and triumphs saw them turn a 2-1 deficit after 86 minutes into a victory, Carlo Ancelotti’s side preying on City’s own painful lack of self-belief.
The contrast was stark, City wilting visibly in the second half, then consumed by anxiety and nerves once their former midfielder Brahim Diaz restored parity with four minutes of normal time left.
City is never home and hosed this season. Real Madrid never believes they are beaten. And this was the case again as Pep Guardiola’s team lost a lead for the fifth time in this campaign.
City has allowed eight goals in the last 16 minutes of their last five Champions League games, more than any other team, which may be a reflection of their present mindset and performance.
Guardiola is currently leading a squad with too many players who are not fully fit, or in Rodri’s case, not fit at all, and too many kilometers on the clock. The fissures are beginning to appear irreparable and more in need of extensive remodeling.
Rodri was on that enormous flag and watching from the sidelines after being included in City’s Champions League team in the hopes that he would recover from his knee injury this season.
How City needs his steel, quality, and soothing impact on the field, as they were once again defeated in the closing minutes.
Guardiola looked pained and frustrated, as well as frantic at times in his technical area, saying, “Many times it happens this season. I know the quality of Real Madrid. We took the game in the second half and tried to attack too quickly. It happens because they are an exceptional team.
“It happens many times this season. Bad decisions, that’s all. I take it. It’s not about you and me, or just the team; it’s everyone.”
He added, “We are just not stable enough. I’ve been here for many years, and we’ve been an extraordinary team, a machine every three days.
“This year, I accept when the opponent is better, but at the moment I’m not good enough to give composure to the team to manage these situations. It’s the truth.
“The accountability belongs to all of us, not just the players. For me, it would be easy to blame a specific player, but that is ridiculous and doesn’t work. It is me first and the players as well.
“The truth is that we are not stable enough in those moments. Today is not an exception; it has happened many times. Today is what it is; tomorrow you have to continue and have fresh legs and fresh minds.”
Guardiola has a monumental task to pull off a victory at the Bernabeu—but the body of evidence is also increasing to suggest he has a similar job to revive Manchester City’s fallen champions.