Soccer Football - Champions League - Knockout Phase Playoff - First Leg - Manchester City v Real Madrid - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - February 11, 2025 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola before the match Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola had no explanation for yet another late-game collapse as his team lost 3-2 at home to Real Madrid in the Champions League playoffs on Tuesday to leave their campaign hanging by a thread ahead of the second leg.
Brahim Diaz and Jude Bellingham struck late to erase City's 2-1 lead, the latter netting the winner in the 92nd minute at the Etihad Stadium where the mood swung from joy to despair.
"We arrived at the last minute with a result and we could not keep it," Guardiola told a press conference.
"After 2-1, many games it has happened, against Feyenoord in the Champions League (City led 3-0 in the 74th minute but were held to a 3-3 draw), against Brentford in the Premier League, against Manchester United, many games at the end we give away," he added.
"Unfortunately it has happened so many times, it's difficult."
Erling Haaland's double, including a penalty in the 80th minute, had City poised for a win over the holders and LaLiga pacesetters but leads have proved slippery this season for Guardiola's side, who are fifth in the Premier League.
They have conceded seven goals in the final 15 minutes of Champions League matches this term.
"There was a lot of naivety from Manchester City, especially late in the game," former Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney said in his role as a pundit on Amazon Prime.
"The players tonight were looking round at each other, almost with a lack of belief in each other, and I think that is a worry for Guardiola.
"When you are 2-1 up against Real Madrid with a game coming up at the Bernabeu, you have to say: 'Let's be sensible', let them have the ball in their half, reset."
PLAYERS ACCOUNTABLE
City defender John Stones acknowledged that the players had to be accountable.
"As the manager says we need to look at ourselves and take accountability. We were right on top at the start of the game and we know Real have quality to come out in the second half," he said.
"It is avoidable from us as the eleven on the pitch. We have to do better -- it's as simple as that. We have to keep a positive mentality and try to put it right."
However, Guardiola said the responsibility "belongs to all of us, not just the players.
"I don't have a problem to accept. To blame one specific player, that is ridiculous. It's all of us, me first. And of course the players as well," he said.
"They want it, how they run, how they do it, but the truth is we are not stable enough in that (crucial) moment."
City, who won the Champions League in 2023, and 15-times winners Real both failed to advance automatically to the last 16 as one of the top eight sides in the new Champions League format, with City finishing 22nd to scrape into the playoffs.
The second leg is next Wednesday in Madrid.
(Reporting by Lori Ewing; Editing by Ken Ferris)
