Pep Guardiola has conceded that Manchester City have had a disappointing season after their 6-3 aggregate defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League knockout play-offs.
A hat-trick from Kylian Mbappe helped Real Madrid eliminate City before the last 16 for the first time under Guardiola. Speaking after the match, the City boss acknowledged that his team had struggled for consistency and were simply outplayed.
“This year, for several reasons, we lost consistency,” Guardiola admitted. “We’ve had a poor season. When you finish 22nd (in the league phase), it’s a sign that you haven’t played well.”
Transition Underway at Manchester City
Guardiola acknowledged that City are already in the process of rebuilding, having made six January signings worth over £175 million.
“Nothing is eternal. Some players are at an age where they can still give us a lot,” he said. “We can’t deny what this group of players has done—winning six Premier League titles in seven seasons and reaching the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final in this competition. But this time, we played against a very strong team, and they were better than us.”
City currently sit fourth in the Premier League, 17 points behind leaders Liverpool, who they will face on Sunday. Guardiola emphasized the importance of finishing in the top four or top five to secure a return to the Champions League next season.
Haaland Was Not Ready to Face Real Madrid
Guardiola also revealed that Erling Haaland was not ready enough to feature against Real Madrid. The Norwegian striker, who picked up a knock against Newcastle, was an unused substitute.
“Erling tried to train yesterday after the last action against Newcastle. The scans showed everything was fine, but he had discomfort walking, even going up the stairs,” Guardiola explained. “We spoke, and he said he wasn’t ready, he didn’t feel good.”
Manchester City will now shift their focus to their Premier League clash against Liverpool on Sunday, a match that could be pivotal in their pursuit of a top-four finish.
