'It has happened a few times now this season' - Akepublished at 12:00 12 February
12:00 12 February
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Nathan Ake says Manchester City "showed glimpses" of the football they know they can play against Real Madrid, but concedes they now need to work on "the little details" if they are to overturn the one-goal deficit in the second leg.
"To give it away like that is frustrating and hard to take because it has happened a few times now this season," said Ake to BBC Radio Manchester. "We have to learn from it as soon as possible.
"In some games you can get away with it, but you won't against a top team.
"There's only one goal in it and, at times, we showed glimpses of what we can do and we created some good chances by playing some really good football.
"Now it is about the little details, so if we can get them right next week, we can hopefully go through."
Tottenham v Man Utd: Did you know?published at 11:41 12 February
11:41 12 February
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Tottenham are unbeaten in their past four Premier League games against Manchester United (W2 D2) and they will be looking to complete the league double over the Red Devils for the first time since 1989-90.
Ange Postecoglou is unbeaten in all three of his Premier League games against United. Only three managers have played their first four against them without losing before - Ruud Gullit, Nuno Espirito Santo and Unai Emery.
Since Ruben Amorim took charge of Manchester United in November, only five sides have picked up fewer points in the Premier League (14). Amorim is only the fourth United manager to lose seven or more of his first 13 top-flight games in charge, alongside John Chapman (10), A.H, Albut and Jimmy Murphy (both seven).
'Anything could happen' - looking ahead to Spurs v Man Utdpublished at 11:06 12 February
11:06 12 February
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BBC Radio Manchester's Gaz Drinkwater, speaking on The Devils' Advocate podcast about Sunday's Premier League game at Tottenham: "Spurs have terrible this season but we know they have got it in them to turn up, and one of the worst United performances this season was when Tottenham came to Old Trafford. They deserved to win, they deserved to batter us.
"You have no idea which Spurs team is going to turn up - and you have no idea which United team is going to turn up.
"Anything could happen - 3-0 to Spurs wouldn't surprise me, 3-0 to United wouldn't surprise me, 0-0 wouldn't surprise me. I don't know how to call it."
Co-host Joe McGrath added: "There's been a lot of talk about Ruben Amorim needing time and as many training sessions as possible, and this is it now. This is a big chunk [of nine days between games] and then we've got an international break coming up as well.
"If there are going to be points of the season where United start turning things around, look a bit more positive and find their starting XI, it's now. Hopefully it's come at the right time."
Man City 2-3 Real Madrid - the fans' verdictpublished at 08:31 12 February
08:31 12 February
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We asked for your views after Manchester City were beaten by two late Real Madrid goals in the first leg of their Champions League play-off.
Here are some of your comments:
Nathan: Predictable and very disappointing. In my opinion, there are still players that are struggling. Rico Lewis is too hesitant to go for any tackles, hence the third goal, and Ederson is making more mistakes than he used to. All in all, we have shot ourselves in the foot and now we have a mountain to climb at the Bernabeu next week.
Stephen: It's time for Ederson to go. He has had too many calamities - how many more are we going to see? We were let down again by not having a proper right-back, Rico Lewis is good but he isn't what we need. John Stones must play the Rodri position from now on. As for Pep, sometimes you just have to change the way you play. If you are 2-1 up, shut up shop. It's no disgrace - it just makes sense.
Joel: Promising signs within the game that City still have the quality there. It's currently being hidden behind a cloud of no confidence, but it is there. Ultimately, we clutched defeat from the jaws of victory. If we hadn't gifted two easy goals away, we would be having a very different conversation. The story of City's season though.
Ian: Disappointing and frustrating. It was a better performance from us, but we lost concentration at vital times and threw the game away.
Usama: This is absolutely criminal now. I have never seen a bunch of professional players make this many schoolboy errors - it's ridiculous. This team can throw away just about anything. It's laughable. It is all on Pep. When certain players wanted to leave, he just should've let them and now we are paying the price. The fans don't deserve to see this absolute travesty week in week out.
Anthony: Let's not be too clever next week in Madrid. Let's play two out and out wingers and go for it. We are out anyway it seems. If we get an early goal, who knows!
'We have to do better - as simple as that' - Diaspublished at 08:29 12 February
08:29 12 February
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Manchester City defender Ruben Dias says their defeat by Real Madrid was "frustrating" but remains hopeful that they can turn it around in the second leg provided they show belief.
After hosting Newcastle in the Premier League at the weekend, City travel to the Bernabeu Stadium next Wednesday needing a win to keep their Champions League dreams alive.
After succumbing to Real in the final minutes of the first leg, Dias told BBC Radio Manchester: "I am just upset with it and of course it is frustrating.
"It is always going to be a different kind of game against them. In the end, there were chances both ways and we ended up playing the last minutes at 2-1. But you cannot let it [the lead] go, the way that we did. We have to do better and it is as simple as that. You cannot allow it.
"Now it is a matter of belief - how much we do believe in ourselves and in that we can go through.
"We know the game that we are going to have to go there and play because we have been there before. "
Analysis: Man City 2-3 Real Madridpublished at 07:42 12 February
07:42 12 February
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All the tears belonged to Manchester City and their supporters at the final whistle after a trademark smash-and-grab late surge gave Real a potentially decisive 3-2 advantage after the first leg of this play-off to reach the last 16 of the Champions League.
Real's relentless, concrete-clad confidence in themselves and street wisdom honed over years of experience and triumphs, saw them turn a 2-1 deficit after 86 minutes into a victory, Carlo Ancelotti's side preying on City's own painful lack of self-belief.
The contrast was stark, City wilting visibly in the second half, then consumed by anxiety and nerves once their former midfielder Brahim Diaz restored parity with four minutes of normal time left.
City are never home and hosed this season. Real Madrid never believe they are beaten. And this was the case again as Pep Guardiola's team lost a lead for the fifth time in this campaign.
It is perhaps an insight into City's current state of mind and form that the two late goals conceded here made it eight goals shipped in the final 16 minutes of their past five Champions League games, the most of any side.
Guardiola is currently presiding over a team with too many miles on the clock, too many players not fully fit – or not fit at all in Rodri's case. The cracks are starting to look beyond repair, rather more in need of major renovation.
Gossip: Man City maintain Wirtz interestpublished at 07:39 12 February
07:39 12 February
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola still wants to sign 21-year-old Bayer Leverkusen and Germany midfielder Florian Wirtz. (Christian Falk, Bild via X), external
Gossip: Ratcliffe set to cut jobs to increase transfer fundspublished at 07:22 12 February
07:22 12 February
Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is planning to cut more jobs to help free up cash for new signings. (Star), external
Meanwhile, United's players believe a change in the style of play to the one currently being used by boss Ruben Amorim might be the best way forward. (Mail - subscription required), external
'A big ask for Man City now'published at 23:33 11 February
23:33 11 February
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It is now a "massive ask" for Manchester City to turn their Champions League paly-off tie around in Madrid, says former England winger Chris Waddle.
Pep Guardiola's side suffered a late 3-2 defeat against Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League play-off to reach the last-16.
They will now head to the Bernabeu next Wednesday having to overturn the one-goal deficit.
"With Manchester City, I think it is fatigue. The players are running on empty. At this level, playing against a team like Real Madrid, it is tough," Waddle told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"The second half, they dropped the pace and Madrid were getting in more often and making more and more chances.
"You feel for Pep Guardiola now. Every game he tries to put his best team out but someone limps off or they are unavailable the next week.
"He has lost players tonight, will they be fit for the return leg? Doubt it. He will have to go to Madrid with a different game plan.
"It is a big ask for Man City now.
"Looking at the players, a little bit of confidence has gone and they were running on empty at times. It is a massive ask to turn it around out there.
"They will get chances, they are a quality side, but can they keep Real Madrid out at the other end? I don't think so."
'Bad decisions, that's all' - Guardiolapublished at 23:00 11 February
23:00 11 February
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Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, speaking to Amazon Prime: "Many times it happen this season.
"I know the the quality of Real Madrid. We took the game in the second half and tried to attack too quick. It happens because they [Real Madrid] are an exceptional team.
"It happens many times this season. Bad decisions, that's all. I take it. It's not about you and me, it's everyone. Yeah, that is all season [injuries], but we know it."
On if Jack Grealish and Manuel Akanji will be fit for the second leg: "I don't know."
On the second leg: "Of course now it's tough. We have to recover. I think now about Newcastle and then go to the Bernabeu."
'A feeling of anger and frustration'published at 22:39 11 February
22:39 11 February
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Manchester City defender John Stones, speaking on Amazon Prime: "A few games after the Arsenal one, 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. The manager said 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.
"We were right on top at the start of the game and we know Real have quality to come out in the second half. 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."
Did you know?published at 22:26 11 February
22:26 11 February
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Manchester City have failed to win any of their past four Champions League games in which they have scored first, with all of those coming this season (1-4 v Sporting CP, 3-3 v Feyenoord, 2-4 v PSG, 2-3 v Real Madrid).
They have also conceded 57 goals in 38 games in all competitions this season - three more than they did in 59 games last campaign. Only in 2016-17 (60) have they conceded more in a season under Pep Guardiola.
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