Pep Guardiola: Real Madrid Champions League Defeat 'Tough' To Take

 

Pep Guardiola admitted defeat was tough to take after Real Madrid dramatically snatched a place in the Champions League final from his Manchester City side.

The Spanish giants produced an astonishing late fightback in their semi-final second leg at the Bernabeu Stadium on Wednesday to win 3-1 on the night and prevail 6-5 on aggregate after extra time.

City had gone 5-3 ahead overall after Riyad Mahrez scored the first goal of the night after 73 minutes but Rodrygo replied with a quickfire double in the closing moments of normal time.

Karim Benzema then settled a compelling tie with his third goal of it, from the penalty spot, in the fifth minute of extra time.

The result sent Real through to a final date with Liverpool in Paris later this month and prolonged the long wait of City, last year's runners-up, for European glory

City boss Guardiola said: "I have had defeats in the Champions League, I had tough defeats at Barcelona when we could not reach the final.

"But it is tough for us, I cannot deny that. We were so close to the Champions League final.

- skysports