Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola said on Friday - with sadness on his face - that there are no words to relieve the pain of the defeat by Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals, but City will seek compensation against Newcastle in the Premier League on Sunday.
The Spanish coach told reporters that he had not spoken to his players since Real's stunning comeback in the second leg last Wednesday in Madrid.
The English team was leading 1-0 until substitute Rodrigo equalized for Real Madrid in the last minute and then added the second goal a minute later.
🔥🔥 Crazy crazy.. no one can do it except the royal #European_Champions_League |
# Real_Madrid_Manchester_City #UCL pic.twitter.com/6rspZnFiwD
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) May 4, 2022
Karim Benzema completed the uprising with a penalty in overtime as Real Madrid won 3-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu and 6-5 on aggregate.
Real Madrid will meet Liverpool in the final in Paris on the 28th of this month.
When asked what he had said to his players since the defeat, Guardiola replied: "Nothing. We haven't spoken. There are no words to ease what we all feel."
Real Madrid 3-1 Manchester City (agg 6-5).
That remarkable second-leg comeback as this competition delivers again 🍿#UCL pic.twitter.com/BCHjOQ8sEz
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) May 5, 2022
Time and sleep to mark the pain of Madrid's defeat
Regarding the treatment of the team's pain from defeat, after qualifying was within their reach, Guardiola explained, "But time heals the wounds. We will try to sleep as best as possible and think of a new goal."
Guardiola said his team's focus on the league title will remain the same, adding that he will speak to the players on Saturday about the team's character, achievements and impressive performances throughout the season.
However, he said he did not know if the current group of players could win the Champions League or if he would be the coach who would.
"Maybe I'm not good enough to help the team do that. Nobody knows what would have happened with other players or coaches. For us, it's a great honor to be there as much as possible in all competitions."
⚽️ Riyad Mahrez 🇩🇿 Citizens rejoice with a goal that may be the price of qualifying for the final #European_Champions_League |
# Real_Madrid_Manchester_City #UCL pic.twitter.com/QT4AqrDHWp
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) May 4, 2022
Premier League clash with Liverpool
City are one point ahead of Liverpool at the top of the Premier League, but they may be behind in the standings when they play on Sunday, as Liverpool hosts Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.
"Players shouldn't forget (the loss to Real Madrid). How can they forget it?" Guardiola said.
"We will play against Newcastle, but thinking about what happened against Real will definitely not stop. I know the players through training sessions, meetings and warm-ups and I trust their commitment. I have no doubts about that."
Guardiola denied that success in the Champions League is the main focus of the club's owners' thinking.
"The club didn't ask me (to win) anything," he said. "They told me to play my best and compete with all the teams in England and all the teams in Europe. It's completely different from what most people think."