Manchester City

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Defender Ruben Dias has said Manchester City "were not good enough" in their second-leg defeat at Real Madrid on Wednesday, as they exited the Champions League.

The 2023 winners fell behind to a Kylian Mbappe goal after just four minutes, before going on to lose 3-1 on the night as the France international forward netted a hat-trick.

"We have a lot to improve, we have to be better," said Portugal international Dias. "The disappointment is maybe heavier than usual because we don't like to lose, we don't like to be in this position."

The 6-3 aggregate defeat for City saw them exit the competition before the last 16 stage, the club's worst performance since they failed to qualify from their group in 2012-13.

Dias added: "It's not just that we've got used to winning every year, that's just our mentality, our way of being. It's the air we breathe. As such, it hurts more.

"We don't take it lightly but the only way to actually improve and the only way to look forward is to accept what happened, and here we were not good enough."

We asked for your reaction to Manchester City's defeat at Real Madrid and exit from the Champions League.

Here is a selection of your comments:

Pat: As soon as I saw the team sheet and knew Haaland wasn't playing, all my confidence drained away. Although not well understood, Erling's influence on the way City play stretches way beyond his goals. He occupies both central defenders, moving and stretching defences, creating pockets of space for others to move into. City completely rely on these pockets and last night there was nothing. Additionally his absence took Ederson's remarkable long passing out of the game as without Haaland (and KDB) there were no targets to hit. Yes we were beaten by the better team on the night and Madrid's front line were superb but it's certainly not all doom and gloom as the pundits seem to believe.

Ronald: City lost in every aspect of team football and showed little or no on-field leadership to combat the best team in Europe. Team age and plan needs a big review.

John: It was never going to happen this season in my opinion, but no need for the doom and gloom - the Blue Moon will rise again soon.

Pedro: Bad result, no getting way from that, but oh how Pep must wish for a fully fit settled defence. Key injuries and constant niggly injuries have hampered the team from virtually the start of the season. Key players are having to play when not fully fit and so never regain their form. With a few recruits, two full-backs and a midfield player we can be back to our best.

Ged: Abysmal campaign. City have been grim overall this season, but have just been awful in the Champions League. The players have just not been consistent enough. There is no Plan B or Plan C these days if Haaland is unavailable. The tactics tonight were of a team that accepted defeat from kick off. I don't mind losing if some effort is shown and the other side is better, but abject surrender is not acceptable. If the tactics involve using a false number nine, then how about playing the ball forward now and then? In fact, how about moving forward, full stop? The most cowardly, disinterested display from a City team in over a decade. Shameful. Saying all that, Madrid were excellent.

Christopher: Man city are in a strange place where the newer players are being expected to step in and instantly improve things. The rest of the team is failing them. No fight, no urgency, no conviction. Can't trust the defence, the midfield is weak and nothing happening up front. Not sure if the players' hearts are in it anymore.

It was a chastening night for defending Premier League champions Manchester City against Champions League holders Real Madrid as they lost 3-1 (6-3 on agg) at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium to exit the competition.

Speaking on BBC Sounds' Football Daily Champions League debrief after the match, former goalkeeper Paul Robinson agreed that "it was clear to see" a huge gulf exists between Real Madrid and Manchester City.

"You watch that game and these two teams that played each other last year, it was almost role reversal the way Manchester City overpowered Real Madrid and how strong they looked," he said.

"The difference in the two sides today was so obvious to see. Real Madrid haven't improved that much that they have gone above Manchester City, it's how far Manchester City have actually dropped off and the lack of self-belief in that side."

It is the earliest that Manchester City have exited the competition since the 2012-13 season when they were eliminated in the group stage and Robinson was particularly scathing of their defence on the night, stating: "I use the words susceptible and vulnerable, that's what they look like as a defence. Every single time Real Madrid got the ball, they looked scared.

"There was holes all over in this Manchester City defence. They were pulled apart, there was no confidence, no communication and they're certainly a different Manchester City team to the one that played in the Champions League last year. They're miles off it, they really are.

"We've seen them lose games in the Premier League that we won't expect them to lose but you look at their record in the Champions League, losing away at Sporting Lisbon 4-1, losing against Juventus, the way that they capitulated at Paris Saint-Germain.

"There's been signs of their form and results coming back in the league but I think tonight was a bad highlight, it highlighted all the flaws that they've got."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.

Liverpool and Manchester City are both interested in Bayer Leverkusen's right-sided player Jeremie Frimpong, who has a 'gentlemen's agreement' with his German club to listen to offers worth 40m euros (£33.1m). The Netherlands international, 24, was in City's academy before moving to Celtic in 2019. (Teamtalk, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

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Pep Guardiola spoke to TNT Sports after Manchester City's defeat against Real Madrid: "After we conceded the goal in the first action we didn't defend well, it was more and more difficult. We have to accept it, the best team won so congratulations to Real Madrid. Now we focus on the Premier League.

"It's a fantastic team, they deserve to go through. We didn't deserve it, it's the first year we didn't make a good Champions League season. We have to accept it and fight for next season to be here again.

"Of course Real Madrid are contenders to win the Champions League now, but there are other good teams around.

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

What did you make of Manchester City’s display?

Come back to this page on Thursday to find a selection of your replies

Four matches make up Wednesday's Champions League action and we will bring you every kick.

• Borussia Dortmund v Sporting - 17:45 GMT

• Real Madrid v Man City - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Paris St-Germain v Brest

• PSV Eindhoven v Juventus

All kick-off times 20:00 unless stated

Follow all the action and reaction here

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Pundits have speaking to BBC Sport to preview Manchester City's huge Champions League play-off second leg against Real Madrid, in which Pep Guardiola's team need to overturn a 3-2 deficit.

Former Manchester City striker Paul Dickov on BBC Radio 5 Live:

As difficult as this season has been, the team is full of players who have been to the Bernabeu before and won the Champions League before. There were little signs on Saturday against Newcastle that we're getting back to where they want to be, albeit Newcastle were pretty poor on the day. You can go there with no fear.

City know what they've got to do and that's the main thing. They have to go there and win. Sometimes that's not a bad thing.

Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton on 5 Live:

Manchester City can go into this game feeling a lot more confident and have that belief but they have all of it do because to keep out this Real Madrid team with Mbappe, Vinicus Junior, Rodrygo and Bellingham... I can't see Manchester City keeping a clean sheet.

I think defensively this season they have had massive issues. I think the goalkeepers haven't played well, plus they've chopped and changed at the back. I think Manchester City have it all to do, but you just never know.

BBC Sport chief football writer Phil McNulty:

Pep Guardiola strode into the Bernabeu Stadium's palatial surroundings knowing Manchester City must overturn the odds - and logic - in a special place that usually reserves its miracles for Real Madrid.

He has known every emotion in this legendary arena on a Champions League journey that has brought him here with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City.

And on Wednesday, Guardiola will once more appear alongside his friend and great adversary, Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti, beneath those towering stands knowing victory will rank among his finest achievements.

Image source, Mirror Sport & Daily Mail

Pep Guardiola says his side will need to play with "courage" at the Bernabeu, as they look to overturn a 3-2 deficit from the first leg of their Champions League play-off against Real Madrid.

Former Premier League winger Andros Townsend was surprised by the manager's comments, adding that courage is "the one thing Manchester City have had in the good and bad times".

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily, Townsend added: "They try to play their own way, even when maybe they shouldn't, so one thing they will have is courage.

"They will probably need a bit of luck because they are going to the Bernabeu. We know that Real Madrid are devastating on the counter-attack with their front four, which includes Jude Bellingham.

"I think they will need a perfect performance to get through."

Statman Dave highlighted two players that he believes could make the difference for Manchester City, adding: "Omar Marmoush scored his first hat-trick of the season last time out, and I think he is going to provide a real threat in that inside-left channel.

"Another player that could really win the game for Manchester City is Nico Gonzalez. We all saw how he was commanding, reading the play and winning the ball back superbly well. He was like a 'mini Rodri' on the ball, as Pep Guardiola said.

"If Manchester City are to win this one, expect Nico Gonzalez to be man of the match."

Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds

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Manchester City's 3-2 defeat in the first leg was the fifth time they have lost the first leg of a Champions League knockout stage tie. They have gone on to be eliminated on each of the previous four occasions.

Erling Haaland has scored 49 goals in 48 Champions League games, scoring a brace in the first leg to record his first ever goals against Real Madrid. A goal in this match would see him become the fastest to reach 50 goals in terms of both appearances and age.

Manchester City's 22-year-old midfielder Maximo Perrone wants to turn his loan in Italy with Como - managed by former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas - into a permanent move. (Calcioline - in Italian), external

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