Guardiola’s ‘ wrong calls’ killed Man City, says Hamann

FORMER Liverpool midfielder, Dietmar Hamann, has blamed Pep Guardiola for Manchester City’s stunning Champions League exit at the hands of Real Madrid on Wednesday night, claiming he ‘ suffocates’ his players and does not give them enough ‘ responsibility’ in big matches.

City appeared to have one foot in the final in Paris when Riyad Mahrez put them two goals ahead on aggregate with 17 minutes to go, but Real forced extratime with a sensational comeback.

Rodrygo scored twice in 90 seconds to level the tie before Karim Benzema’s penalty in extra- time sent Real through at the expense of Guardiola’s devastated City side in one of the most dramatic matches in Champions League history.

Guardiola has faced criticism for his side’s failure to progress, which prolongs the club’s wait for a first Champions League crown.

Hamann believes the

Spaniard should shoulder the blame for City’s exit, and claimed Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp and Real manager Carlo Ancelotti would not have made the same mistakes.

“If you give players responsibility they act responsible,” Hamann wrote on Twitter. “If you try to play the game for them they won’t.

“Guardiola suffocates teams and players to make their own decisions. Compare that to Ancelottis or Klopps teams.”