Rodri claims Manchester City were “the only team” on the field against Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals… and reveals Pep Guardiola’s men were shocked by the Spanish giants’ approach

A dejected Rodri insisted Manchester City were “the only team” on the field against Real Madrid and could not explain their penalty shootout defeat in the Champions League quarter-finals.

City’s quest for a Double Treble came to an abrupt end at the Etihad on Wednesday night as the Spanish giants progressed to the semi-final after winning 4-3 on penalties.

After last week’s thrilling 3-3 draw at the Santiago Bernabéu, the visitors took an early lead when Rodrygo scored in the 12th minute.

Real’s goal seemed to galvanize Pep Guardiola’s men, who dominated the match and finally tied the score thanks to Kevin De Bruyne’s goal in the 76th minute.

But despite their superiority, City could not find a way past Real and found themselves on the losing side after Bernardo Silva and Mateo Kovacic missed from the penalty spot.

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Speaking after the match, Rodri insisted the Premier League champions had been the better team.

“To be honest, I’ve only seen one team today,” he said. bbc.

“We know how difficult it is to beat Madrid, but in my opinion we should have passed.”

City shot 16 to Real’s seven when they dismantled Madrid 4-0 in the second leg of the semi-final last season. On Wednesday night, they recorded 33 shots to Real’s eight as they laid siege to the visitors’ goal, but in the end they had nothing to show for it.

And Rodri admitted that City will regret their lack of cutting edge.

“In the end this is football,” he told the Spanish broadcaster. Movistar Plus+.

‘We know what we do and we know that this competition does not understand merit, it understands who puts the ball in the back of the net.

Their only shot on goal was in and we were trailing for most of the game. We had chances and if we had been more clinical we would have won the game.

“Real Madrid won the tie, but in my opinion we deserved to go through.”

After taking an early lead, Real ceded the initiative to City and Rodri admitted to being surprised by how deep Carlo Ancelotti’s team decided to defend.

“We knew the game was going to be long for them, but we didn’t expect them to go so, so deep.” [in their half],’ He explained.

‘It’s difficult to analyze. […] We had the feeling that penalties were better for them. it was his turn [to progress] again.

“In the end this is football. When you have given everything you don’t regret it. Now it’s time to encourage the boys and congratulate Real Madrid.”

Guardiola echoed Rodri’s thoughts and could not criticize his players.

“I don’t regret what we’ve done,” he said.

“We always try to create more opportunities and concede less, because we believe that helps you win and we did everything.”

Guardiola also had no complaints about Real’s defensive approach.

“I don’t judge,” he said.

‘I’m not here to do this. It’s football. In this competition that’s football.”