Pep Guardiola: Man City Boss Says 'Luck Doesn’t Exist' After Champions League Exit vs Real Madrid

• Man City coach, Pep Guardiola, has accepted defeat after his side lost to Real Madrid
• While Los Blancos survived a lot of attacks, the Spaniard insisted luck does not exist
• It was the third successive season that these two European giants had locked horns

Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has gracefully acknowledged his team's exit from the UEFA Champions League.

The Spanish tactician, who steered the Citizens to their inaugural European triumph last season, harboured hopes of securing back-to-back trebles this season. However, Real Madrid dashed those aspirations.

According to Eurosport, Rodrygo handed the away side the early advantage in both the match and the tie with a swift counter-attacking goal, but Kevin De Bruyne's 76th-minute strike extended the contest into extra time, where neither side could secure a decisive goal.

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Madrid's ultra-defensive approach bails them out

Real Madrid adopted an ultra-defensive strategy, thwarting the majority of Manchester City's offensive efforts.

Despite Madrid's dangerous counterattacks, City dominated the entire duration of the match and would have come close to clinching victory if luck had been on their side.

Nevertheless, Los Blancos remained steadfast in their defensive approach throughout the game at the Etihad Stadium.

The second leg ended in a 1-1 draw, leaving the aggregate score tied at 4-4 and prompting a penalty shootout, which Real Madrid won 4-3.

Guardiola accepts defeat, insists there's no luck

Guardiola demonstrated his sportsmanship by graciously accepting defeat but was quick to highlight the 14-time European champions' defensive style.

"First of all, congratulations to Real Madrid," the City head coach said as cited by Tribuna. "They defend deep so well with incredible solidarity."

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He continued: "We created the chances to do it, but football is about scoring goals. Thank you to my players. It is a results-driven business. They [Madrid] are in the semi-final, and we are not."

"We did everything to almost do it, and to lose as this hurts, but what a fantastic way to lose."

When asked if his side ran out of luck, the 52-year-old gaffer ruled it out, completely citing his role model, Johann Cruyff.

'Johan Cruyff said luck doesn’t exist, I agree. Losing like this hurts. We feel bad but we've done all we can. What can I say to these players? We've shown we can play against a big side. What more could we have done?"

Rodri slams Madrid's defensive approach

Conversely, Sports Brief reported that Manchester City's Rodri was upset by Real Madrid's defensive approach in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final.

Following the match, the midfielder, who featured for the entirety of the game at the Etihad Stadium, expressed frustration, asserting that City was the better side.