Manchester City fans had high hopes for a strong showing against Real Madrid, but what unfolded on Tuesday night left them in shock.
Pep Guardiola’s side seemed to be in control before a late collapse turned the game on its head, leading to a 3-2 defeat at the Etihad Stadium.
While Madrid celebrated a thrilling victory, the Spanish press wasted no time in tearing into City and Guardiola.
City’s Lead Slips Away
The match started with City looking poised to take a one-goal advantage into the second leg.
Erling Haaland had given his side the lead twice, with his second goal coming from the penalty spot after Phil Foden was fouled in the box.
However, Kylian Mbappe’s equalizer kept Madrid in the game, setting the stage for a dramatic finish.
In the final six minutes, Madrid struck twice, completely flipping the script and leaving City stunned.
Spanish Press Piles on the Criticism
The Spanish media didn’t hold back in their assessment of City’s collapse.
Sport’s headline read, ‘Stick to Pep’, emphasizing the team’s failure to hold onto their advantage.
The publication highlighted Haaland’s efforts but criticized City for allowing the match to slip away, pointing to defensive lapses as a major concern.
Their back page featured a dejected Josko Gvardiol with his head in his hands while Madrid players celebrated in the background.
One columnist even went as far as claiming that Guardiola’s tenure at City has aged him, suggesting that both the manager and his squad are showing signs of decline.
Doubts Over Guardiola’s Future
Another article from Sport painted a bleak picture of City’s situation, questioning whether Guardiola still has the ability to turn things around.
The piece stated, ‘It seems that the players are making Pep’s bed, or at least it seems that the dressing room no longer has enough strength to turn the team around and continue winning as they have done until now.’
The writer also suggested that Guardiola had hinted at a possible exit even before the Madrid defeat, leaving his future in doubt.
Mundo Deportivo also weighed in, calling City’s performance ‘fragile’.
The outlet pointed out that despite taking the lead twice, defensive errors cost them the game.
The criticism extended to Guardiola, with the publication claiming that he has shown signs of fatigue in recent months as City struggles both domestically and in Europe.
Madrid’s Triumph Celebrated
While City faced criticism, Real Madrid received high praise.
AS’s front page declared, ‘This is how Madrid wins!’, hailing Carlo Ancelotti’s side for what they described as their best away performance in years.
Marca followed suit with the headline, ‘Bravo Madrid!’, crediting goals from Mbappe, Brahim Diaz, and Jude Bellingham for neutralizing Haaland’s efforts.
French Media Joins the Criticism
It wasn’t just the Spanish press that took aim at City.
French newspaper L’Equipe, notorious for their harsh player ratings, delivered brutal scores for several City stars.
Bernardo Silva received a particularly scathing review, earning a 3/10 rating for a lackluster performance.
The outlet criticized his poor duel success rate and costly fouls, including the one that led to Madrid’s equalizer.
Guardiola didn’t escape scrutiny either, receiving a 4/10 for his tactical decisions.
Other players, including goalkeeper Ederson, defender Ruben Dias, and winger Savinho, were also given the same underwhelming score.
What’s Next for City?
With the second leg looming, Guardiola and his squad face an uphill battle.
Madrid’s stunning comeback has put them in the driver’s seat, and City will need a near-perfect performance in the Spanish capital to overturn the deficit.
Can Guardiola rally his team and silence his critics, or will this be the beginning of a downward spiral for the reigning Premier League champions?
The answer awaits in the next clash between these European giants.