Guardiola faces growing criticism as Manchester City stumbles against Real Madrid
Pep Guardiola faced another crushing defeat on Tuesday evening as his Manchester City team fell 3-2 to Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League knockout round.
Despite an early goal from Erling Haaland, City faltered in the final stages of the match.
After Kylian Mbappé’s equalizer and another penalty from Haaland, defensive lapses allowed Madrid to score twice, with Brahim Diaz and Jude Bellingham securing the win.
Guardiola, visibly shaken, expressed frustration, admitting that this recurring issue of letting leads slip was a serious problem for his team.
The English press wasted no time in criticizing City’s performance. Soccer Special’s Paul Merson suggested that the team had lost something, blaming fatigue and aging players for their failure to maintain consistency.
Sky Sports’ Laura Hunter questioned Guardiola’s decision to place young Rico Lewis against Madrid’s Vinicius Jr., while former player Wayne Rooney highlighted City’s lack of composure, especially late in the match.
Alan Shearer and the Daily Mail were equally pessimistic about City’s chances, with Shearer calling the situation « almost finished » and Harry Bamforth of the Daily Mail doubting City’s ability to turn things around at the Bernabéu.
Internationally, Italy’s Gazzetta dello Sport also pointed to Guardiola’s struggles, emphasizing the psychological toll this defeat could take on both the coach and his team.
Now, with the return leg in Madrid looming, Guardiola faces an uphill battle to save City’s Champions League hopes.
