“They are monsters!” : European newspapers hail Manchester City’s dazzling 4-0 victory over Real Madrid…
European newspapers have branded Manchester City “monsters” after they hammered 4-0 Real Madrid on Wednesday night to reach the Champions League final on June 10.
After a 1-1 draw in Spain last week, the hosts took control at the Etihad, with Bernardo Silva scoring a first-half brace to put the Premier League leaders away.
Manuel Akanji made it 3-0 with a quarter of an hour remaining, before substitute Julian Alvarez finished the job in added time.
The win takes Manchester City to their second Champions League final in three years, where they will face Inter Milan in Istanbul.
Media across the continent were eager to hail Pep Guardiola’s side for their dominating display as they knocked out the winners of last year’s competition.
Manchester City were hailed as ‘monsters’ by the European press after dismantling Madrid 4-0
The defending champions exited after suffering a heavy 4-0 defeat at England on Wednesday
Italy’s Corriere dello Sport branded Manchester City “monsters” after the impressive win, while Marca said Carlo Ancelotti’s side endured “a nightmare ninety minutes” in Manchester.
L’Equipe France say Man City are titanic on their way to an impressive semi-final victory
An emotional Karim Benzema on the cover of Spanish AS after the sad exit from Real Madrid
Italy’s Corriere dello Sport led with ‘They’re monsters’, hailing Man City’s ‘stellar’ stars for the way they eliminated starters.
They say the work of Pep Guardiola’s side is “scaring” Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi ahead of next month’s final.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti won’t be involved in the final act of the season in Istanbul on June 10 – although he has said he doesn’t expect to be sacked as the club’s manager though. that he also finished behind La Liga champions Barcelona.
Spanish AS read ‘To cry’ as Real Madrid’s capitulation brought emotion to the face of experienced captain Karim Benzema, who could do nothing to stop dominance at home to the Etihad.
They said the 4-0 result was “historic” but Ancelotti said it was “clear” Real’s president had no intention of sacking him despite the sinking hole in the scoreline.
Meanwhile, Marca dwelt on the ‘painful beatings’ Real Madrid suffered, labeling it a ‘dark night’ for Los Blancos – who ‘suffered ninety minutes of nightmare’.
They also said Belgian goalkeeper Thibault Courtois ‘avoided an outrageous rout’ in Man City’s dominating play, despite four concedes in the northeast of England.
L’Equipe France have compared Manchester City to the Titanic, hailing Silva’s first-half brace in particular for its role in “crushing the defending champions”.
Their notoriously difficult ratings were also unpleasant for Real Madrid’s Benzema and Luka Modric, who both received scores of three out of a possible ten.
Bernardo Silva also received praise by scoring twice in Man City’s demolition job
Portuguese outlet Record hailed him as ‘Big Bernardo’ after his influential performance
The Portuguese player’s performance was naturally also celebrated in his native country’s Record newspaper, hailing him with the cover and the phrase ‘Big Bernardo’.
He is quoted as saying ‘It was a very special night’, while his boss Guardiola said ‘One of the best I’ve seen in my life’.
Note that June 10 – when the final takes place in Turkey – is also Portugal Day, a national holiday in the country on the Iberian Peninsula.
Manchester City will be next in action on Sunday, when they claim the Premier League title with a victory over Chelsea. Real Madrid are looking to secure second place in La Liga, continuing their campaign on Sunday night at 14th-placed Valencia.
