Pep Guardiola admitted that Real Madrid were simply superior and that Manchester City deserved to be eliminated from the Champions League play-offs. “I have seen Real at their very best in recent years,” Guardiola said after the 1-3 loss in the second leg at the Bernabeu on February 19. “They excel in every facet—long balls, defensive organization, movement, pressing, and retreating. I have nothing but congratulations for them.”
After losing 2-3 in the first leg at the Etihad, City needed a win to overturn the deficit in Spain. However, just four minutes into the match, Guardiola’s side was given a rude awakening when Kylian Mbappe opened the scoring. Mbappe then struck again in the 33rd and 61st minutes—first firing a shot into the near post and later curling a shot perfectly to complete his hat-trick, making it 3-0. City could only manage a consolation goal through a deflected strike from Nico Gonzalez in stoppage time (90+2).
Guardiola was particularly impressed by Real’s versatility on the pitch, noting that their multifaceted approach left him unable to keep pace with them as he once could. Still, he emphasized that Real are not the only contenders for Champions League glory this season. “Other teams are playing extraordinarily well too—Liverpool, Barcelona, and PSG are all in the mix,” he added.
Reflecting on his own side, Guardiola conceded that City lacked the pace and quality of passing that Real exhibited. “The match was effectively decided in the first half with those two early goals,” he noted. Yet, despite the setback, Guardiola was not overly disheartened. He attributed City’s decline to the natural process of aging and a loss of steam among several key players. “We have been a great team, but this year, for various reasons, we are simply not our usual selves,” he said. “Now, we must secure a top-four or top-five finish in the Premier League to make our way back into the Champions League.”
When asked about the Real Madrid supporters’ chant, “Guardiola, please stay,” the Manchester City manager replied, “Yes, I want to continue.”
Before their two-legged play-off defeat to Real, City were positioned 22nd in the group stage with three wins, two draws, three losses, and 11 points. Under Guardiola, the Etihad side had consistently progressed—winning the 2022–2023 season, reaching the final in 2020–2021, the semi-finals in 2021–2022, the quarter-finals in 2017–2018, 2018–2019, 2019–2020, 2023–2024, and the round of 16 in 2016–2017. This time, however, they have failed to advance for the first time under his tenure.
Currently, in the 2024–2025 Premier League, Manchester City sit in fourth place with 44 points, trailing Liverpool by 17. With the title race fading, Guardiola’s side now appear to have little chance of clinching a fifth consecutive Premier League crown—and their seventh in eight seasons.