Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has admitted that the club is in need of a squad overhaul following their disappointing Champions League elimination at the hands of Real Madrid. A stunning hat-trick from Kylian Mbappé secured a 3-1 victory for the Spanish giants in the second leg, sealing a commanding 6-3 aggregate win that ended City’s European campaign.
Guardiola’s side found themselves on the back foot after conceding two late goals in their first-leg 3-2 defeat at home, making the return fixture at the Santiago Bernabéu a daunting challenge. The defeat marks the first time since Guardiola’s arrival in 2016 that City has failed to progress beyond the last 16.
“The better team won,” Guardiola conceded in an interview with Spanish television network Movistar. “It has been a bad year for us in this competition. If we finished 22nd in the league phase, it’s because we didn’t perform well. This has been our worst season.”
Injuries have further compounded City’s difficulties. Erling Haaland remained on the bench due to a knee issue, while John Stones was forced off early in the match. A consolation goal for City came through January signing Nico González, who capitalized on a rebound from Omar Marmoush’s free-kick.
Acknowledging the need for a squad refresh, Guardiola pointed to City’s £170 million mid-season investment in Marmoush, González, Abdukodir Khusanov, and Vitor Reis as the start of a rebuilding process. “Nothing lasts forever,” he noted. “This group of players has defined an era—winning six Premier League titles in seven years and consistently reaching the latter stages in Europe.”
Despite the disappointment, Guardiola praised Real Madrid’s strength and tactical adaptability. “This year, we faced the best version of Madrid. They controlled possession, defended high when needed, and also dropped deep effectively. We have to congratulate them.”
As City turns its focus to domestic competition, the club faces a pivotal period of reflection and restructuring to ensure a return to European dominance.
