CITY’S SIX YEARS OF SUFFERING ON THE BIG STAGE
2016-17: MONACO, LAST 16, LOST ON AWAY GOALS
THE home leg, a seesawing 5-3, is one of the finest games at the Etihad under Pep Guardiola. But, with Guardiola fearing a goal fest at the Stade Louis II, he selected an aggressive team that was beaten 3-1 by a side featuring exciting young stars such as Kylian Mbappe (right). Full back Aleksandr Kolarov played centre half ahead of Nicolas Otamendi.
2017-18: LIVERPOOL, QUARTER-FINAL, LOST 5-1 ON AGG
WITH Aymeric Laporte and Ilkay Gundogan both picked out of position, City were blitzed by three Liverpool goals in a 19-minute frenzy in the first half of the first leg at Anfield. Decisions by the officials went against City and Guardiola was sent to the stands by referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz for his remonstrations over a disallowed Leroy Sane effort when they were 1-0 up in the return fixture.
2018-19: TOTTENHAM, QUARTERFINAL, LOST ON AWAY GOALS
REFEREEING decisions incensed City again as they crashed out in the last eight. Mistakes too, as Sergio Aguero missed a penalty in the away first leg, which they lost 1-0. The return affair was frantic, ending in a 4-3 City victory. But it was laced with more misfortune, with a last-gasp goal by Raheem Sterling chalked off for offside on a VAR check as Mauricio Pochettino (below) and his team sealed a shock away-goals victory.
2019-20: LYON, QUARTER-FINAL, LOST 3-1
THE worst night of Guardiola’s reign as he was criticised for playing a back three, a system rare to City. The defensive trio included youngster Eric Garcia and midfielder Fernandinho. They were then left shellshocked by mistakes at both ends. Sterling missed an open goal to draw level, while mishaps at the back led to all three of Lyon’s strikes.
2020-21: CHELSEA, FINAL, LOST 1-0
CITY never stamped their mark on last season’s final. The manager was again criticised for his starting XI, opting for Gundogan as a holding midfielder ahead of Rodri or captain Fernandinho, who had been integral to their run to a maiden final. City were toothless in attack and left dazed when an Antonio Rudiger challenge forced Kevin De Bruyne off with a fractured eye socket. Aguero (left) came off the bench on his final game for the club but could not meet any of the crosses flung in as they searched for a leveller.
2021-22: REAL MADRID, SEMI-FINAL, LOST 6-5 ON AGG
MUCH like the Liverpool and Spurs defeats in previous years, City were undone by short periods of defensive disarray but also a plethora of missed opportunities. Both Riyad Mahrez and Phil Foden spurned chances in the first leg and allowing Real to escape Manchester with just a one-goal deficit spelt trouble. But City should have seen the semi-final out, a goal up with one minute of normal time to play. Rodrygo scored his first seconds after Jack Grealish twice went perilously close to sealing the tie as City buckled.