Pep urges players not to dwell on Bernabeu breakdown

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola put his side's latest Champions League collapse down to the unpredictability of soccer after Real Madrid produced a stunning late fightback to reach the final.

City led 1-0 on the night at the Santiago Bernabeu and 5-3 on aggregate heading into the 90th minute before two goals in 88 seconds from substitute Rodrygo sent the game to extra time.

Karim Benzema then slotted home the winner from the penalty spot to send the 13-time winner into the final against Liverpool on May 28 in Paris.

City, on the other hand, is still waiting to be crowned European champion despite the billions invested by the club's Abu Dhabi-based owners over the past 14 years.

Guardiola's men were left to rue a series of missed chances both in the first leg at the Etihad and after Riyad Mahrez had fired them into the lead 17 minutes from time.

"We didn't play our best, but it is normal, in a semifinal, the players feel the pressure and wanting to do it," Guardiola told BT Sport.

"Football is unpredictable, it is a game like this. We have to accept it."

Madrid also needed comebacks at the Bernabeu to see off Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea in the previous two rounds.

But the Spanish champion had not managed even a shot on target until Rodrygo turned the tie by flicking home Benzema's cross.

The Brazilian then rose highest to power home a header in the first minute of stoppage time.

Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti, who last year was in charge of Liverpool's local rival Everton, said of the dramatic ending: "The game was close to finished and we managed to find the last energy we had.

"I am happy to be in the final, in Paris against another great team, so it promises to be a fantastic game for football."

Reflecting on his team's collapse, Guardiola said: "It was not like in the last 10 minutes they attack and attack and you suffer. It didn't happen. They put a lot of players in the box, with (Eder) Militao, Rodrygo, Vinicius (Junior), Benzema and they put in crosses and scored two goals."

City needs to get another painful European exit out of its system quickly. The English champion leads Liverpool by a point at the top of the Premier League with four games remaining.

"Now we need to process that and come back with our people at home and the last four games we have," added Guardiola, whose side hosts Newcastle on Sunday.

AFP