Pep Guardiola admitted Manchester City’s dominance is over after their 6-3 aggregate Champions League exit to Real Madrid. Kylian Mbappe’s hat-trick sealed City’s fate, while Erling Haaland’s injury absence worsened their struggles. Guardiola urged focus on the Premier League and FA Cup, vowing to rebuild for next season.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola acknowledged that his team is no longer at its peak after crashing out of the Champions League with a 6-3 aggregate defeat to Real Madrid. A Kylian Mbappe hat-trick sealed City's fate, marking another blow in a disappointing season where they also sit fourth in the Premier League, 17 points behind the leaders.
“We were exceptional before, but not anymore,” Guardiola admitted post-match. While accepting the defeat, he emphasized the need to focus on the remaining 14 games, including their push in the Premier League and FA Cup.
City’s struggles were compounded by the absence of Erling Haaland, who was ruled out due to a knee injury sustained against Newcastle. Guardiola revealed that Haaland attempted to train but was in too much pain to feature.
“We planned to fight back, but Erling couldn’t even walk properly. It wasn’t the best option to risk him,” he explained.
The City boss also praised Real Madrid’s performance, admitting his side couldn’t contain Mbappe. “They pressed high, ran more, and deserved the win. We have to accept it.”
With their Champions League campaign over, Guardiola is shifting focus to rebuilding for the next season, determined to restore City's competitive edge in Europe.
