‘City missed golden opportunity’

Manchester City missed a golden opportunity to make the Champions League final against “the worst Real Madrid side in recent history”, according to Guillem Balague.

After the first leg at the Etihad ended in a 0-0 draw, Fernando’s 20th-minute own goal eliminated the last Premier League side in the competition and sent Real through to a Madrid derby final. 

Sky Sports’ Spanish football expert was critical of both sides’ performance in the semi-final tie – and does not rate Real’s chances of beating local rivals Atletico Madrid in the Milan showdown later this month.

Balague also reflects on Manuel Pellegrini’s time as City boss ahead of his summer departure…

‘Man City could have beaten Real Madrid’

Manchester City lost a golden opportunity to get to the Champions League final. This is the worst Real Madrid side in recent history. Last year, it was a better Real Madrid. They managed to get 22 consecutive victories the year before, and one year before that they won the Champions League. Any Real Madrid team under Jose Mourinho would also have beaten this one. It’s a poor Real Madrid.

In my eyes, before the game, they were the fourth-worst team in the semi-finals. There were so many problems, so many ways they could be beaten, that it felt like an organised team who could create enough danger – say by a decent Kevin de Bruyne or Sergio Aguero move – could have beaten them.

Although not very often, Manchester City have shown this season that their best version can beat almost anybody. But I was wrong – Real Madrid were only the third worst side in these semi-finals.

‘How is it possible that there are not better sides?’

I don’t think what happened in this tie was a reflection of the Spanish league versus the English league. I feel Leicester City would have created many more problems for Real Madrid, but it certainly showed us a very poor Manchester City, who hardly had a shot on goal against the eighth-worst defence in La Liga.

Real Madrid, who missed Casemiro especially in the second half, defended far too deep after scoring the goal, …

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