Wayne Rooney slams ‘naive’ Man City after 3-2 defeat against Real Madrid | OneFootball

Former Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney claims Manchester City were ‘naive’ and lacked belief after throwing away a lead in Tuesday’s 3-2 defeat against Real Madrid.

Both sides have become familiar foes in the Champions League and renewed rivalries in the play-offs after failing to secure a top-eight finish in the League Phase.

After a frantic opening quarter of an hour at the Etihad Stadium, City gained a foothold in the game before drawing first blood through Erling Braut Haaland.

Madrid responded on the hour mark as Kylian Mbappe cushioned home a deft lobbed pass from Dani Ceballos following a botched free-kick attempt.

Haaland restored City’s lead from the spot 20 minutes later.

However, Madrid pulled off another extraordinary comeback in the dying embers as Brahim Diaz levelled matters six minutes before Jude Bellingham put the game to bed in stoppage time.

Rooney wasn’t impressed with City’s performance and slammed Pep Guardiola’s side for being naive and lacking belief against the reigning European champions.

“There was a lot of naivety from Manchester City, especially late in the game,” Rooney said (via BBC).

“The players tonight were looking round at each other, almost with a lack of belief in each other, and I think that is a worry for Guardiola.

“When you are 2-1 up against Real Madrid with a game coming up at the Bernabeu, you have to say ‘let’s be sensible’, let them have the ball in their half, reset.”

City salvaged their Champions League hopes with a 3-1 win over Belgian side Club Brugge in their final League Phase fixture to set up a play-off date with Madrid.

However, they now have it all to do in the second leg.

Madrid will know the tie is far from over as they return to Santiago Bernabeu with a slender lead, but Guardiola will demand a response from his side when they host Newcastle United at the weekend.

Much like their Champions League form, City have been far from convincing in the Premier League, but a win against Newcastle would be the perfect springboard for next week’s must-win clash in the Spanish capital.