Pep Guardiola has urged Manchester City to accept their latest Champions League heartbreak and refocus on their Premier League title defence after a stunning semi-final defeat to Real Madrid. City were seconds away from an all-English final against Liverpool before a remarkable Real rally at the Bernabeu.
A second-half goal from Riyad Mahrez put City on the brink, but two goals inside two minutes from Rodrygo in injury time forced extra-time with the tie level at 5-5 on aggregate. Karim Benzema then scored his 10th goal in five Champions League games from the penalty spot in extra time to seal victory.
Speaking to BT Sport after the defeat, Guardiola said: 'We were close. But at the end we could not reach it. It is simple, the first half we didn't have a good game, we were not giving enough but we didn't suffer much. We were better after the goal, we found our tempo. And in the last 10 minutes we didn't suffer.'
He added: 'There were moments, but we were not under pressure, this was not the case. They put a lot of players in the box, Rodrygo, Vinicius, Benzema, Asensio, with crosses and scored twice. We didn't suffer much but we didn't play our best but this is normal. We were close. Football is unpredictable and sometimes you have to accept it.'
Asked about the mood in the City dressing room, Guardiola said: 'They are sad. Because we were close. Now we need time to process and come back in our last games.' Real Madrid will now face Liverpool in the final on 28 May.
