Manchester City’s Champions League collapse should not be seen as a failure, says manager Pep Guardiola.
In the second leg of their semi-final with Real Madrid, City led 5-3 on aggregate in the 90th minute, but Real scored twice to force extra time.
The hosts then clinched a 3-1 win on the night to keep Guardiola waiting for his first Champions League win with City after six years at the club.
“If people say it’s a failure then I disagree. The people in the squad know how difficult it is, but they accept it,” said the Spanish coach, 51.
As a coach, Guardiola won the Champions League twice with Barcelona, in 2009 and 2011.