Man City hit Real for four to reach CL final
Manchester, May 18: Manchester City produced a landmark performance to reach the Champions League final as Bernardo Silva’s double put Real Madrid to the sword in a 40 thrashing that secured a 5-1 aggregate win for the English champions on Wednesday.
Eder Militao’s own goal and Julian Alvarez’s strike in stoppage time rounded off a memorable night for Pep Guardiola’s men as they moved to within three wins of matching Manchester United’s treble in 1998/99.
“To play like that against Real Madrid in the Champions League semifinals is a huge satisfaction,” said Guardiola.
A fifth Premier League title in six seasons appears a formality with City needing just three points from their final three games, while United await
in the FA Cup final on June 3.
But it is a first ever Champions League that
City crave the most and they will be strong favourites to finally conquer Europe against Inter
Milan in Istanbul on June 10.
Seven years into Guardiola’s reign as City boss, the home fans were sent into seventh heaven by the quality of a display that rivalled the former Barcelona boss’ Champions League final wins in charge of the Catalan giants in 2009 and 2011.
Madrid dashed City’s dreams at this stage last season with a remarkable comeback from two goals down in the dying seconds of the second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu.
But Carlo Ancelotti’s men this time had no answer to City’s excellence.
“I had the feeling we had the pain of last year in our stomach,” added Guardiola.
“Today it all came out in our energy and desire. Sport always give you a second chance to take revenge. We had the luck to get that chance this year and we took it.”