Manchester City midfielder Rodri has claimed “only one team” was trying to win on Wednesday night as Real Madrid snatched victory on penalties in the Champions League quarter-finals.
City, seeking to become the first English side to retain the European Cup since Nottingham Forest in 1980, dominated the second leg at the Etihad Stadium, controlling the majority of possession and out-shooting their opponent by a ratio of four to one.
But it was Madrid who scored the opening goal of the game to move 4-3 ahead on aggregate when Rodrygo fired home inside 12 minutes. The only one of City’s 33 attempts that found the net was Kevin De Bruyne’s 76th minute equaliser, forcing extra-time. But Madrid prevailed 4-3 from the spot.
“To be honest, I saw only one team. In terms of defending, they defended [well]. They knew how to suffer and we know how tough Real Madrid are,” Rodri said to reporters afterwards.
“In my opinion, we should go through with that amount of chances, but this is the trick of this competition. They know how to play it. We congratulate [Madrid]. We gave everything, there is nothing to regret. This is football sometimes. This shows how difficult it is to win it, as we did last season. It was very frustrating and sometimes it is difficult to explain.”
Pep Guardiola also alluded to his belief that City deserved to go through on “merit”, before adding that isn’t always something the Champions League “understands”.
He reflected: “We know that this competition does not understand merits, it understands to put the ball in. It is true that the only one they have had was put in, and we have been in tow the entire game and we have managed to tie.”
City’s season could yet finish with two trophies, as Premier League leaders with six games left and favourites of the final four teams to lift the FA Cup. Madrid are also chasing two trophies, set to reclaim La Liga and hunting a record-extending 15th Champions League.
READ THE LATEST CHAMPIONS LEAGUE NEWS, PREVIEWS & RATINGS HERE
Read More: World News | Entertainment News | Celeb News
90 Mins
