April 18, (THEWILL) – Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City side were left heartbroken as Real Madrid emerged victorious on penalties after the two teams played out a 1-1 draw on aggregate in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final.
Despite Guardiola’s insistence that his team were “better” than their Spanish counterparts, the English Premier League leaders were unable to break down a resolute Madrid defence that held firm under intense pressure. Their failure to convert their dominance into goals ultimately proved their undoing, as Carlo Ancelotti’s experienced side clung on to progress to the semi-finals.
Bernardo Silva’s missed chance from close range, as well as several other near-misses from the likes of Erling Haaland and Kevin de Bruyne, proved costly for the home side. “We did everything more than well in all departments,” a disappointed Guardiola told TNT Sports afterwards. “We were outstanding in the way we played, and unfortunately, we couldn’t win.”
Real Madrid, on the other hand, will be relieved to have emerged victorious from a tightly-contested affair. Ancelotti, the wily veteran manager, acknowledged that his side had “suffered” for large periods, but praised their “great attitude” and ability to “stay concentrated at the back” when it mattered most.
Despite their impressive performance, City were unable to break the deadlock and were ultimately punished by their failure to capitalise on their superiority. Guardiola’s belief that his team were the better side will do little to ease the pain of their UCL exit, as they must now turn their attention to the three-horse EPL title race where Liverpool and Arsenal are hot on their trail.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
