Man City needs to regain its semi-final defeat and come back to Guardiola

Man City Pep Guardiola says Manchester City will have to “get over” their incredible loss to Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals and “come back” if they are to look to defend their Premier League title. City finished bottom of Spain as Real continued to score twice in stoppage time and bounced back in extra time after falling two goals down. They lead Liverpool by 1 point in the league and meet Newcastle on Sunday.

“It was difficult for us; I can’t deny it,” Guardiola said of Wednesday’s defeat.

“We are very close to Man City the Champions League final. “Now we have to finish it and come back with our people at home, and in the last four games, we have.” In one of the best knockout games in Champions League history, City was looking to Riyadh to score; Marez, looking like the winners, led 5-3 in the draw.

However, two extra-time goals from substitute Rodrigo for a Real side who had earlier failed to equalize before Karim Benzema’s extra-time penalty made it for Spain. “We didn’t have a game in the first half; we weren’t good enough. But we didn’t suffer too much,” Guardiola told BT Sport. “They put a lot of parties in the box, with Eder Militao, Rodrigo, Vinicius Jr., Karim Benzema; they were in the middle and scored two goals.

“We didn’t play our best, but it’s normal, semi-finals, the players feel the excitement, and they want to do it. Football is unpredictable; it’s a game like this. We have to accept it.” Guardiola has twice won the Champions League as a coach – in 2008/09 and 2010/11 at Barcelona.

“Then they could explode.”

City’s attention is now focused on the Premier League title race with Liverpool – the country they will countenance in the Champions League final if they get there – their rivals. The Reds meet Tottenham on Saturday night, before City’s game against Newcastle.

With the lead at the top so slim with four games to spare, pundits doubt how badly Wednesday’s defeat could affect reigning champions England. “It’s a heavy loss,” former England defender Jonathan Woodgate told News Radio 5 Live. “What are the consequences for the league? They could explode after that.”