Manchester Metropolis boss Pep Guardiola says prime goalscorer Erling Haaland and playmaker Kevin de Bruyne each requested to return off earlier than his facet have been knocked out within the Champions League quarter-finals by Actual Madrid on penalties.
Each would in all probability have taken spot kicks if that they had nonetheless been on the pitch, with Metropolis finally happening 4-3 within the shootout after the tie completed 4-4 on combination.
Defender Manuel Akanji was the third participant who wanted changing as a legacy of their latest accidents.
“They requested me to exit,” mentioned Guardiola. “They may not proceed.”
Haaland was changed by Julian Alvarez, who scored his penalty, on the finish of 90 minutes whereas De Bruyne, who netted Metropolis’s opening purpose, got here off within the first half of additional time.
The Belgian made means for Mateo Kovacic, whose effort was saved by Actual goalkeeper Andriy Lunin.
The Metropolis boss supplied no criticism of Kovacic or Bernardo Silva, who requested to take a penalty however despatched a poor try straight at Lunin.
“Bernardo is a dependable participant,” he mentioned. “He wished to take it. He determined to shoot in that means. It’s what it’s.”
Metropolis had 67% possession on the Etihad Stadium, 33 photographs to eight and 9 on course to Actual Madrid’s three.
Nevertheless it counted for nothing as Metropolis’s defence of the trophy they received so thrillingly towards Inter Milan final June got here to an finish, similtaneously their hopes of an historic double Treble.
“Johan Cruyff mentioned luck does not exist, I agree with him,” mentioned Guardiola.
“Dropping like this hurts. We really feel unhealthy however we did every part. We now have no regrets about what we have now completed.”
Metropolis have little time to choose themselves up given the face Chelsea within the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley on Saturday.
Guardiola is aware of this defeat will sting, regardless that Actual are the match heavyweights and can now be favoured to go on and raise the trophy for a document fifteenth time at Wembley in June.
“We performed distinctive in all departments however sadly we didn’t win,” he mentioned.
“You hope to create extra and concede much less as a result of it lets you win however we did not convert the probabilities we had.
“To beat Actual Madrid you need to be at your finest. We have been at our greatest however it was not sufficient.”
