Pep Guardiola insisted there have been no regrets after Manchester Metropolis’s bid to retain their Champions League crown resulted in a heartbreaking penalty shoot-out loss to Actual Madrid.
The holders have been overwhelmed 4-3 on spot-kicks by the Spanish giants after their quarter-final tie ended 4-4 on mixture – 1-1 on the evening – regardless of a dominant show from Guardiola’s aspect within the second leg on the Etihad Stadium.
Metropolis fell behind early to a Rodrygo purpose however created a number of probabilities as they sought to regain management of the tie however Kevin De Bruyne’s 76th-minute equaliser was their solely reward.
Metropolis supervisor Guardiola mentioned: “I might have most well-liked to win however congratulations to Actual Madrid, they defended so deep with unimaginable solidarity and we did the whole lot.
“I don’t have any regrets about what we’ve got performed. At all times we attempt to create extra probabilities and concede much less, as a result of we imagine that lets you win and we did the whole lot.
“We performed exceptionally in all departments and sadly we couldn’t win.”
Bernardo Silva and Mateo Kovacic each missed within the shoot-out, with the previous’s effort proving a very snug save for Andriy Lunin.
Guardiola refused in charge the Portuguese for his failure to register.
He mentioned: “Bernardo requested to take it, he’s a dependable participant and determined to shoot in that manner. What a recreation he had performed. It occurs.”
Guardiola additionally had no complaints about Actual’s ways, with the Spanish aspect compelled to sit down again and defend deep for a lot of the sport.
“I don’t decide,” he mentioned. “I’m not right here to do that. It’s soccer. On this competitors, that’s the way in which soccer occurs.”
Metropolis’s loss additionally ended their hopes of profitable a second successive treble they usually should now decide themselves up for Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final in opposition to Chelsea at Wembley.
Guardiola mentioned: “Now we’ll relaxation and on Friday we journey to London to play the sport.
“We are going to see how individuals will react. In fact the restoration is simpler when profitable, reasonably than shedding, however it’s the semi-final of the FA Cup and we’ll attempt to compete as a lot as attainable.”
Actual supervisor Carlo Ancelotti admitted the energy of Metropolis had compelled them to absorb strain and look to take the tie on penalties.
The veteran Italian mentioned: “We defended actually, rather well. This was about survival. Madrid is a membership based mostly on at all times combating to remain in conditions the place there appears to be no manner out – however we at all times discover a manner.
“By the point the penalty shoot-out got here, we have been completely satisfied we’d undergo.
“That is about the one manner you possibly can come to Metropolis and win. You’re employed, sacrifice and win nevertheless you possibly can.”
