Pep Guardiola Blasts Real Madrid After 3-2 Defeat: “They Are Not…”

Manchester City thought they had done enough against Real Madrid, but the magic of Los Blancos struck again. In a match where the Skyblues led twice, Real Madrid’s stunning comeback left Pep Guardiola in disbelief. After suffering a 3-2 defeat at home, the Catalan coach didn’t hold back, describing Real Madrid as “not normal” and incredibly difficult to understand.

The first leg of this Champions League knockout tie started well for Manchester City. In the 19th minute, Erling Haaland put his team ahead with a powerful strike, capping off City’s early dominance. However, as has been the case so many times in this competition, Real Madrid proved that no match is over until the final whistle.

Despite struggling with injuries, particularly in defense, Carlo Ancelotti’s side remained resilient. City looked to have sealed the win when Haaland converted a penalty in the 80th minute, giving his team a 2-1 lead. But with Real Madrid, nothing is ever certain.

Guardiola’s Agony After the Match

Just six minutes later, Brahim Diaz, who had only just come on, capitalized on an excellent run from Vinícius Júnior to equalize against his former club. As the Etihad Stadium fell silent, Real Madrid sensed an opportunity. In the dying moments of the game, Jude Bellingham struck a last-minute winner, once again crushing City’s hopes. The stadium was left in shock as Madrid completed yet another stunning Champions League comeback.

Visibly devastated, Guardiola stood frozen on the sidelines, unable to comprehend how the game had slipped away. “This has happened too many times this season… too many times… It’s just bad decisions, that’s all,” he told Prime Video after the match.

“Real Madrid Are Not Normal, At All”

Guardiola, despite his frustration, acknowledged the brilliance of the match’s standout player. “Vinícius is an extraordinary footballer,” he admitted. But now, the City boss faces an uphill battle to rally his players ahead of the return leg at the Santiago Bernabéu next week.

The Spaniard understands that to stand a chance, his team will need to produce an “abnormal” performance, just like Real Madrid did. “Real Madrid are not normal, at all,” he sighed. “We will try to go to Madrid and turn this around, of course, but emotionally, this is a huge blow for us.”

For all of City’s attacking firepower, they were undone by Madrid’s sheer belief and resilience. What made this result even more remarkable was that Ancelotti fielded a makeshift defense, with two players who had never started a major game together. And yet, when it mattered most, Madrid delivered.

A Second Chance at the Bernabéu

The battle is far from over. Manchester City, still one of Europe’s most dangerous attacking teams, will have another chance in the second leg. But history is against them. Real Madrid have made a habit of rising from the dead in this competition, and City now faces the daunting task of overturning the deficit in the Spanish capital.

For Guardiola, this defeat cuts deep. Time and again, his team has been undone by Real Madrid’s never-say-die attitude. Even when City appears to have control, Madrid finds a way. “We have to do something special next week,” Guardiola urged. “Otherwise, we will be out.”

With everything on the line, Manchester City must now prepare for the ultimate test. Can they finally break Madrid’s Champions League spell, or will Los Blancos once again prove why they are the undisputed kings of Europe? The answer awaits at the Bernabéu.