Joleon Lescott, a former Manchester City player, has claimed that Real Madrid’s inflated sense of self in the Champions League came back to bite them on Wednesday. In their 4-0 defeat to Manchester City, Real Madrid seemed to be overconfident, and Lescott suggests that their mentality was off. This defeat means that Real Madrid has failed to progress past the semi-finals of the Champions League for the second year in a row, and they will need to address their approach to the competition if they are to return to their former glory. Manchester City, on the other hand, played with control, purpose, and execution, and they were irresistible throughout the match, securing their place in the Champions League final.
WHAT HAPPENED?
Last year in the Champions League, Real Madrid pulled off a remarkable win against Manchester City, with two stoppage-time goals from Rodrygo and an extra-time aggregate winner from Karim Benzema. However, there were no such heroics this year, as Real Madrid suffered a 4-0 away defeat (5-1 on aggregate) in the semi-final. Joleon Lescott suggests that Real Madrid may have been overconfident and expected a comeback to materialize without needing to work for it, while Manchester City played with more urgency and purpose.
WHAT THEY SAID:
Joleon Lescott told BT Sport that in the match between Manchester City and Real Madrid, it was clear that Manchester City was playing to win their first Champions League title, while Real Madrid was relying on their history in the competition. Lescott suggests that Real Madrid’s inflated sense of self in the Champions League may have led to their downfall, and Manchester City took their chance devastatingly. This statement highlights the gap in mentality and approach between the two teams, with Manchester City playing with more urgency and purpose to secure their place in the Champions League final.
THE BIGGER PICTURE:
The bigger picture is that Manchester City has been the superior team this season in all competitions, leading the Premier League title chase, while Real Madrid is lagging far behind Barcelona in La Liga. Manchester City’s dominance was evident in the second leg of the Champions League semi-final, where they outplayed Real Madrid in all areas of the pitch. Pep Guardiola’s tactical approach was instrumental in keeping the visitors from gaining confidence, and Manchester City’s control, purpose, and execution were too much for Real Madrid to handle. This victory is a testament to Manchester City’s exceptional form this season and their quest to win their first-ever Champions League title.
WHAT NEXT FOR REAL MADRID?
Real Madrid’s season is effectively over, as they have no chance of winning La Liga this season. With only a few games left to play, they will finish the season with matches against Valencia, Rayo Vallecano, Sevilla, and Athletic Club. Real Madrid will be disappointed with their performance in the Champions League this season, having failed to progress past the semi-finals for the second year in a row. They will need to address their mentality and approach to the competition if they are to return to their former glory in the Champions League. Real Madrid will now turn their attention to the summer transfer window and look to strengthen their squad for the next season.