Guardiola Admits Need for Rebuild After Man City’s Champions League Exit to Real Madrid
Pep Guardiola has acknowledged that Manchester City is in need of a significant rebuild following their disappointing exit from the Champions League at the hands of Real Madrid. The Spanish giants defeated City 6-3 on aggregate, with a decisive 3-1 victory in the second leg, highlighted by a stunning hat-trick from Kylian Mbappe.
The defeat marks a troubling milestone for City, as it is the first time under Guardiola’s tenure that the English champions have failed to reach the last 16 of the prestigious competition. This year was particularly challenging for City, who finished 22nd in the league phase, barely scraping through the group stage.
“The better team won,” Guardiola told Movistar after the match. “We have had a bad year in the competition. If you finish 22nd, it is because we haven’t been right. It has been our worst year.”
Injuries have plagued City throughout the season, with star striker Erling Haaland sidelined for the match due to a knee injury and defender John Stones forced off in the first 10 minutes. The team’s only goal came from January signing Nico Gonzalez, who tapped in after Omar Marmoush’s free-kick hit the crossbar.
Guardiola revealed that the rebuilding process has already begun, with the club spending £170 million ($214 million) on new signings during the January transfer window. “Nothing lasts forever, and in the group there are players that have marked an era,” he noted.
Despite the setback, Guardiola emphasized the achievements of the current squad, which has secured six Premier League titles in seven years and consistently reached the later stages of European competitions. He acknowledged the excellence of this year’s Real Madrid squad, stating, “This year we faced the best Madrid. They can control the game, defend well, and adapt to different situations.”
