Manchester City exited the Champions League last night after losing 3-1 to Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu, resulting in a 6-3 defeat on aggregate.
Kylian Mbappé scored a hat-trick, adding to his effort from the first leg, before Nico Gonzalez scored his first goal for the club in the closing stages.
The loss against the defending champions is the second time in two seasons in which Pep Guardiola’s men have been knocked out by Carlo Ancelotti’s side – proving to be somewhat of a bogey side in recent years.
After the defeat, the only trophy City could potentially win this campaign is the FA Cup, with a miracle needed if they are to turn around Liverpool’s 17-point advantage with 12 games to go.
Guardiola confirmed after the meeting that the best team won, heaping praise on Madrid after their triumph, with numerous players failing to impress against the LaLiga giants.
Man City’s poor performers against Real Madrid
Attacker Savinho was handed another start last night after his superb recent form in the City side but was unable to replicate his highest performance levels – contributing to the Champions League exit.
The Brazilian could only muster 32 touches, losing the ball on eight occasions and only registering one shot, looking toothless in front of goal throughout the encounter.
He wasn’t the only Citizens talent to fail to deliver, with defender Rúben Dias once again looking way below his usual high standards at the heart of the defence.
The 27-year-old partnered John Stones at the back before the Englishman had to be subbed off in the opening stages of the contest, unable to make an impact on proceedings – slipping for Mbappé’s opening goal.
He also lost possession 10 times, managing to win just one aerial duel in the process, undoubtedly looking way off his best, like many others did at the Bernabeu.
It was an evening to forget for everyone associated with the club, including one player who once again failed to deliver on the big stage despite Pep’s continued faith in him.
The Man City star who dropped a 5/10 against Madrid
This season has been a disaster for Pep and City, potentially going trophy-less for the first time since his debut year in charge at the Etihad way back in 2016/17.
However, it’s highlighted the need for further investment from the board, with numerous players no longer at the level required for a side fighting for Premier League titles on a consistent basis.
One of whom rejoined the club over the summer in the form of midfielder İlkay Gündoğan, who moved back to Manchester in the summer after spending a year with Barcelona in Spain.
The 34-year-old was handed another start after his performance in the 4-0 win over Newcastle United at the Etihad on Saturday – but it was a call that cost Guardiola in Madrid.
The German started in the heart of the side, but it was evident that he no longer has the legs to compete at the top level of European football, often being bypassed by Madrid when they had possession.
Gundogan was a passenger throughout, only winning 50% of the duels he entered, completing 55 passes during his 77-minute display, but only two of which were key passes – with the majority either sideways or backwards.
He also gave possession away six times, committing one foul in the process, with his subsequent showing being dubbed as a “hall of shame” performance by journalist Owuraku Ampofo.
|
İlkay Gündoğan’s stats for Man City against Real Madrid |
|
|---|---|
|
Statistics |
Tally |
|
Minutes played |
77 |
|
Touches |
66 |
|
Passes completed |
55/61 (90%) |
|
Key passes completed |
2 |
|
Duels won |
1/2 (50%) |
|
Possession lost |
6x |
|
Fouls committed |
1 |
|
Stats via SofaScore |
|
To add insult to injury, he was handed a measly 5/10 match rating by Manchester Evening News journalist Simon Bajkowski – highlighting his lack of positive impact against Ancelotti’s side.
Given his showing, Pep needs to axe the experienced ace from his starting eleven if his side are to provide the fanbase with something to cheer about in the coming months.
The focus now needs to be on securing a Champions League place come the end of May, whilst also winning the FA Cup, but if they are to do so, the Spaniard has to consider other options at the heart of the side – potentially handing minutes to youngsters over Gundogan.
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