European media have been scathing in their assessments of Manchester City following their 2-3 reverse against Real Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League play-off, a match that now puts their round-of-16 hopes in jeopardy.
“Among all the teams Guardiola has ever managed—from Barcelona to Bayern to City—what I’ve seen from City lately is by far the worst,” remarked a commentator from Spain’s Carrusel Deportivo after the match at the Etihad on February 11.
Another Carrusel Deportivo analyst, Antonio Romero, added, “The most damaging aspect for City was allowing Real to attack relentlessly. They created a flurry of chances and even equalized 1-1 in the 60th minute. Even though City managed to go up 2-1 in the 80th minute, Real had ample time to add two more goals and stage a comeback to win 3-2. This is an average Man City performance, something I’ve never witnessed on the pitch before.”
Bruno Alemany, Director of the Play Futbol channel on Cadena Ser, criticized City further, stating that the team isn’t just unbalanced but also individually weak and deficient in defense. He singled out midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, lamenting that he now appears to be merely a shadow of his peak form from 2019 to 2023.
The difficulties facing City under Pep Guardiola have reached unprecedented levels. Once a side that could string together 12 consecutive wins across all competitions, City now finds themselves fighting for survival. They even had to scramble through a play-off to secure a place in the Champions League round of 16 after finishing just 22nd in the group stage—only two spots clear of elimination.
On home turf yesterday, Erling Haaland had given City hope by putting them ahead twice—first with a near-post volley in the 19th minute, and then with a penalty in the 80th minute. Yet, as Real Madrid’s relentless attack took hold, City gradually lost control. Kylian Mbappe equalized with a curling volley, and then Brahim Diaz chipped in with a late equalizer in the 86th minute. Finally, Jude Bellingham headed a near-post goal in stoppage time (90+2) to seal a stunning 3-2 victory for Real. Analysts noted that if Mbappe had capitalized on three additional clear-cut chances, City could have suffered an even heavier defeat.
Throughout the game, Real Madrid’s offensive output was remarkable—they took 20 shots, with eight on target, nearly doubling City’s figures. After the match, Guardiola himself conceded that Real played the best football he has ever witnessed in his encounters with City.
Guardiola’s illustrious managerial career spans his tenures at Barcelona (2008–2012), Bayern Munich (2013–2016), and now Manchester City (since 2016). During these periods, he has amassed three Champions League titles, three La Liga crowns, three Bundesliga trophies, six Premier League titles, and achieved two trebles. In recognition of his achievements, the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) named him the best manager in the world in 2009, 2011, and 2023.
However, his reputation appears to be waning. This season, City have lost 12 matches—accounting for 16% of the total 74 defeats he has experienced during his more than eight seasons in England. Currently, the Etihad home team sits in fifth place in the Premier League and has already been eliminated from the EFL Cup. Their Champions League survival now hinges on winning the return leg on February 19 at the Bernabeu.