12/12/2025

FRIDAY | DEC 12, 2025

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Man City’s Erling Haaland (left) controls the ball challenged by Real Madrid’s Raul Asencio during the Champions League match at Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid yesterday. – AFPPIC

Guardiola says City need to be better despite win at Santiago Barbabeu Pep not satisfied

Golden promise falls flat

- Story on page 31

Local reports before the game had even sug gested he could be sacked if Real succumbed to City. While speculation over Alonso’s future will now only intensify, the former Liverpool mid fielder at least felt his team had gone down fight ing for him. Alonso said: “It has been quite a tough game. We started really well with Rodrygo’s goal and had other chances, doing what we wanted to. In those 10 minutes they came back but the team kept try ing. We did not lose our faith in the second half with all the difficulties, injuries we are living with. “The players gave their last breath. I don’t have anything to reproach them for. I am grateful to the players for their attitude, keeping it up. We will keep on believing. I am sure we can make it better. “The results are not what we want, we have to be self-critical... but keep working and believing that this will pass, because everything passes, and I’m convinced we can do it.” Alonso’s players backed him after the game, publicly displaying support for the coach after media reports they had were unhappy with him in recent weeks. Rodrygo, who scored his first goal in 33 matches, ran over to hug Alonso after sending Madrid ahead. “It’s a difficult moment for us and for (Alonso) as well. Things aren’t going well... we wanted to show people we’re together with the coach,” Rodrygo told Movistar . “We are together, we need this unity to keep moving forward and achieving our objectives.” Defender Raul Asencio said that the team is with Alonso “100%”. – The Independent/AFP/ Agencies

Guardiola lauded the courage and personality of O’Reilly, who continued his incredible impact this season by scoring a maiden European goal to silence the Bernabeu and draw City level. And for Pep, the willingness of O’Reilly, who was voted the official Man of the Match, to play with no fear was exemplary.

P EP GUARDIOLA (above) believes his Manchester City team will have to improve to win the Champions League despite recording a memorable victory at Real Madrid. City stunned the Spanish giants at the Bernabeu yesterday – and heaped the pressure on under-fire Real boss Xabi Alonso – as they came from behind to win a compelling encounter 2-1. The result lifted City to fourth in the league phase standings, getting their campaign back on track after last month’s loss to Bayer Leverkusen, but Guardiola feels further improvement is needed. Guardiola said: “It was a good experience for us being here. We felt the pressure of having to do it and there will be good lessons for the future... but that level is not quite enough. The players made a big effort but we still have much to improve. “We’ve been here many times in the last five years, we’ve played many battles against them, but we’ve played much better and not won. This is the reality. We are not ready (yet). We are far away. In February we will be better. “Don’t misunderstand me, winning at the Bernabeu is a big, big task. But at the same time, whatever the results look like, for the level to arrive to the semifinals, it’s not enough.” Real had the better chances early and took the lead through Rodrygo before City struck back before half-time with a close-range finish from Nico O’Reilly and Erling Haaland’s penalty.

Guardiola said: “Until the first

goal we scored they were much better. Every time we lost the ball they

“Now he is left back for England, for the national team, he has incredible pace and is so intelligent and makes mistakes, but he tries and that is top,” Pep pointed out. “Everyone makes mistakes. Sometimes you make a mistake because you are not courageous enough. We have new players and many things. “Really pleased now we have 13 points (in the group), two games left, and at least four points (means we) will be in top eight, that’s what we want. Winning in Villarreal and now here, is not easy to do to be honest.”

punished us, espe cially with Rodrygo. They have this qual ity and in the last stages I know we have to be better. “It was good to score a goal because it helped us get back into the game. Jeremy (Doku) was out standing today, like

other players too. It was a good experience for us being here, for many new players coming for the first time to this stadium, where it is so tough to play... I have to be so grateful to the players. I’m happy.” he added. Man City’s Nico O’Reilly celebrates scoring their first goal yesterday. – REUTERSPIC

Opposite number Alonso had gone into the game under heavy scrutiny after a poor run of results.

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