Pep insists City can ‘rise’ again

Pep Guardiola promised Manchester City will bounce back from their Champions League heartache at the Bernabeu Stadium on Wednesday night.

City were within moments of booking a return to the final as they held a 1-0 lead after Riyad Mahrez had struck a fine goal – and a 5-3 advantage in the two legs – over Real Madrid in an absorbing semi-final.

But the Premier League leaders collapsed in dramatic fashion as Rodrygo struck twice with 90 minutes gone to send the tie into extra-time.

Karim Benzema then put Real ahead for the first time over the two legs from the penalty spot.

The Spanish giants held on for a memorable 3-1 success on the night, and 6-5 on aggregate, to progress to a final date with Liverpool in Paris.

City must now quickly pick themselves up from this shattering loss as the Premier League title race resumes at the weekend.

Guardiola’s side, who host Newcastle on Sunday, have no room for error, with Liverpool trailing them by a point with four games left.

The City manager, right, said: “We need time now, one or two days, but we will rise. We have to do it (and) with our people (we will). The players gave everything. We were so close and we could not do it.”

Guardiola felt Real’s dramatic late recovery came from nowhere.

He said: “There is a long history in sport of this kind of situation happening when you arrive at the end, 10 or 15 minutes left, and you are absolutely being dominated with the opponent creating a lot of problems. But that didn’t happen.

“Then they found it, and a minute later another one. With their people supporting, it was difficult and after the penalty made the difference.”