Knocked Out In The Champions League, Manchester City Shifts Focus To The Top Four Of The Premier League

Pep Guardiola asked Manchester City to focus on the last four of the Premier League after being knocked out in the Champions League (Instagram/@mancity).

JAKARTA - Pep Guardiola said Manchester City must now fight to qualify for next season's Champions League after Kylian Mbappe's hat trick for Real Madrid knocked the Premier League champions out before the round of 16.

The elimination of The Citizens ensured that the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach did not reach the last 16 of the Champions League for the first time in his coaching career.

Hattrick Mbappe sealed a 3-1 win in the second leg for Real Madrid on a 6-3 aggregate. They will face Bayer Leverkusen or Atletico Madrid in the last 16 which will be known on Friday, February 21, 2025.

With Manchester City now knocked out of the Champions League and 17 points behind Premier League leaders, Liverpool, Guardiola said his team must now focus on securing the top four in the Premier League.

The target was pushed in order to enter the Champions League next season, having acknowledged that Real Madrid deserved to end their team's hopes in the elite European tournament.

"We couldn't stay well with the movement of Mbappe and it was more difficult. The best team wins, they deserve it."

"We've always had the group stage in the Champions League season, finals, semifinals, but this season in all of our events isn't good."

"I feel we were better than Real Madrid in the previous three seasons, but this time they are better."

"They deserve it. All we have to do is accept it and keep going."

"We have 13 games in the Premier League to try and be here (League Champions) next season. Nothing lasts forever."

"We were amazing and we had to try. We couldn't win the league and we had to be in the top four or top five to try to be here again," Guardiola said after the game.

Manchester City have faced Real Madrid four times in the knockout stages of the Champions League since 2020. They won two games and lost twice, including the latest meeting.

Guardiola said that this defeat was more severe than the previous defeat to Los Blancos because his team was unable to compete in the two legs.

"It's okay to accept the fact that they are better. In previous seasons, when we played amazingly, it was more painful than today."

"I always ask my team that a winning-worthy team must always win. However, that didn't happen in football."

"That's the reality. So, we have to reflect on the good things we've done."

"We have time to think about it (the team's future). Now it's easy to say, but that's not the point."

"Losing 2-3 at home is hard to accept, but even with good results, I know how good they are."

"Over time, the team and the club will accept what they are," said the Spaniard again.

The next match for Manchester City is an important Premier League match against leaders Liverpool on Sunday, February 23, 2025.

The condition of star striker Erling Haaland, who was unable to play against Real Madrid due to injury, is doubtful for the match.