- Man City fell to a 3-2 defeat by Real Madrid in their Champions League clash
- Guardiola’s side led on the night before the Spanish side mounted a comeback
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John Stones has revealed that Man City’s stars were told to ‘take accountability’ by Pep Guardiola after their 3-2 defeat by Real Madrid on Tuesday night.
City looked poised to arrive in the Spanish capital next week with a one-goal lead after Erling Haaland successfully converted his 80th-minute penalty following a foul on Phil Foden.
The strike, the Norwegian’s second of the game came after Kylian Mbappe had restored parity for Real Madrid in fortuitous fashion. The hosts then conceded twice in the final four minutes at the Etihad, as the visitors sealed all three points.
Afterwards, City defender Stones admitted that it was a ‘frustrating’ evening for the Premier League champions and revealed Guardiola’s ruthless message at full-time.
Speaking to Prime Video Sport, Stones said: ‘I don’t know how to put it into words straight away, it’s so raw and frustrating for everyone.
‘We were in the game until so late and then it’s two situations that happen and we concede. It’s frustrating as a defender to come away with that result.
John Stones revealed Pep Guardiola’s brutal message to Man City after their Real Madrid loss
The Spanish giants staged a late comeback in the first-leg of their European play off tie
Guardiola watched on as Madrid scored twice in the last 10 minutes to seal the victory
‘It’s a feeling of anger and frustration. We need to see games out better that’s for sure. The manager just said to us we need to take accountability for what we do on the pitch, I think we do that. We need to step up when these bad moments happen.
‘Today we had a great opportunity to go to the Bernabeu with a 2-1 lead. It’s not done. We have to stay positive, which is difficult now. As the manager says, we need to look at ourselves and take accountability’.
Meanwhile, speaking himself after the match, Guardiola said: ‘Today was tight and in certain times we had chances. Many games at the end we give away. In that level it is so difficult. It is not the first time, it happens many times.
‘There are mistakes in similar areas. It is difficult to manage but yeah, it happens many times. Players take decisions in the moment, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. We arrived in the last minute with the result but we could not keep it.
‘It belongs to all of us, not just the players. I have not a problem to accept that it doesn’t work like it worked in the past. It is all of us.
‘They want it, how they run and how they do it but the truth is that we are not stable enough in the moments. At the end, today is what it is and after tomorrow we have to continue to learn.
‘There are many, many good things that we played. The result is what it is. Of course we did many good things, things can improve and always give credit for the opponent and the quality they have.’
Stones was unable to prevent Jude Bellingham (right) from poking home from close range
Erling Haaland found the back of the net on the night but it wasn’t enough to seal three points
After full-time, the Spaniard was spotted with scratches on his head, presumably sustained during a nerve-wrecking 90 minutes in the home dugout.
It is the third time fans have spotted self-inflicted marks on the Spaniard’s face after matches in the Champions League this season, with the first coming after City’s dramatic 3-3 draw with Feyenoord in November.
He was again seen with scratches on his head after City’s final group phase win over Club Brugge last month.
The City boss will be hopeful that his side can overturn the defecit when they head to Spain next Wednesday.
