Pep reflects on frustrating Real Madrid loss | OneFootball

City boss Pep Guardiola said there was a huge sense of frustration in the wake of Tuesday’s 3-2 Champions League play-off first leg defeat at home to Real Madrid.

In what was an eventful Etihad encounter, City twice took the lead against the reigning European champions through Erling Haaland with Kylain Mbappe striking in-between for the visitors.

But with City looking set for victory, the game then turned on its head in the last five minutes with first former City youngster Brahim Diaz drawing Madrid level again before Jude Bellingham then claimed an injury time winner for the Spaniards.

It was the toughest of finales for City and gave Real a slender advantage going into next Wednesday’s deciding leg at the Bernabeu.

And the Blues boss said it was tough seeing the lead his players had worked so hard to achieve slip away late on.

“It's the fourth time we played in a row against Madrid here and in the three previous we were much, much better than them but today was tight and in certain times they had chances and Ederson was our best player,” Pep reflected.

“Sometimes it happens that a team is better and the result doesn't work.

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“I think they started well for 15 minutes and after we took the game and we were really good with the ball.

“In the second half, we could not make the passes that we needed to play. We wanted to attack so quickly but when we attack so quick with the strikers that they have it’s more difficult.

“After it was 2-1 but it happened too much this season. In many games it happened, against Feyernoord, Sporting Lisbon, Brentford in the Premier League Man United, many games we gave away.

“We have to look at ourselves and at this level it’s so difficult. It's not the first time unfortunately it happened many times and that's why it's so difficult.”

Pep also pointed to fact that there was much to admire about so much of his side’s play.

But the boss acknowledged that the result ultimately coloured the evening.

“There are many good things. We know who we are playing. But the result is what it is and that is why we're here,” Pep added.

“Of course, we did many good things but things can improve.

“Always I give credit to the opponent for the quality that they have. But when you arrive at the result at the end it's tough.

“It happens many times and for the players it’s difficult.

“I think about how they suffered, because they did everything, but we are not able to be solid with decision making in certain moments.”