- 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
- LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! Is there an agenda against Ange Postecoglou?
Pep Guardiola has admitted that he ‘can’t find the solution’ to Manchester City’s woes after the side suffered a 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 six minutes at the Etihad, as the visitors sealed all three points.
Speaking after the full-time whistle, Guardiola made the stunning admission that he feels as though his tactics no longer work.
He said: ‘I have no problem to accept that it [City’s tactics] doesn’t work like it did in the past. Not a problem.
‘They [the players] want it, of course. [Look at] How they run, how they do it… but the truth is that we are not stable.
Pep Guardiola has admitted that he ‘can’t find the solution’ to Manchester City’s woes
The City boss admitted that his tactics ‘don’t work’ anymore after losing to Real Madrid
Madrid scored twice in the last 10 minutes to ensure a stunning victory at the Etihad
‘It has happened many times because I can’t find the solution. It has happened many times. It was the year that Madrid was at its best, we had a good result and we let it slip away.’
When asked about whether City could pull of a stunning comeback at the Santiago Bernabeu, he replied: ‘We will try, of course, but it is tough mentally. We will travel to Madrid to see what we can do.’
Meanwhile, John Stones revealed that Man City‘s stars were told to ‘take accountability’ by Guardiola after their 3-2 defeat on Tuesday.
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.
‘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’.
Erling Haaland scored twice on the night but was unable to prevent the defeat on the night
Kylian Mbappe (middle) and Co wheeled away in celebration after scoring on the night
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 deficit when they head to Spain next Wednesday.
