Real Madrid vs Man City: Scale of rebuild required laid bare in Champions League play-off thumping

20 February 2025, 10:27 | Updated: 20 February 2025, 11:57

It's really difficult to say in such a low moment, but I think that the facts are laid pretty bare that Man City were so far below the level they had to be to compete against Real Madrid in Spain.

Since I arrived in Madrid a couple of days ago, there was this growing belief that despite the first leg, despite the way that ended, City would come here and really challenge Madrid, would score, would trouble them.

I think that was the most concerning thing from Pep Guardiola's point of view on Wednesday night - that the team were not the team we're used to seeing. They were unrecognisable in the sense that with the ball they didn't cause enough problems.

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