Football

Football   |   May 18, 2023

Manchester City’s De Bruyne and Guardiola engage in heated exchange in UEFA Champions League Victory

During Manchester City’s dominant 4-0 victory over Real Madrid in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League semifinal, there was a heated exchange between Kevin De Bruyne and manager Pep Guardiola. The incident occurred when the Belgian midfielder lost possession of the ball in the second half, prompting Guardiola to seemingly reprimand him.

Bernardo Silva contributed two goals in the first half, while Manuel Akanji and Julian Alvarez found the net in the second half, securing a resounding 4-0 victory that left Real Madrid with no chance of staging a comeback. Follow your favourite Champions League team with attractive betting odds from Gclub.

A fan’s footage has recently surfaced, capturing De Bruyne screaming at Guardiola, who responded in kind. The intense exchange on the field demonstrated the passion and determination within the Manchester City team.

Following the match, Guardiola admitted his dissatisfaction with De Bruyne’s decision to attack on his own and lose possession. He stated (via Daily Mail), “At 2-0 we rushed a lot. Right after the break [Ilkay] Gundogan lost a ball, Kevin made three transitions that weren’t necessary, and we rushed a lot when we had to do the opposite, sink them and turn them, sink them and turn them. But it’s normal. It gets close, you rush, and it has cost us more, although in general, we have had an extraordinary game.”

With their convincing victory over Real Madrid, Manchester City secured their place in the UEFA Champions League final where they will face Inter Milan in a highly anticipated clash.

In addition to praising his players’ performance, Guardiola also commended their humility in victory. He acknowledged their ability to bounce back from the disappointment of last season’s semifinal loss to Real Madrid. Reflecting on their resilience, Guardiola shared with the media (via Daily Mail), “I had the feeling these last days that we had a mix of calm and the intention to play these types of games. All the pain we had last year was there today. It was really tough the way we lost. We had to swallow the poison and say, ‘I want it’. It was there, the energy from one year. This team is so humble. I’m so proud. They take every competition so seriously. I hate arrogance in sort when you believe you are something that you are not. Today they got their reward. Life always gives you a second opportunity.”

Real Madrid ultimately went on to win the UEFA Champions League last season, and now Manchester City is eager to secure the coveted trophy this summer, with hopes of triumphing in the final. Get all the latest updates from the Champions League only on Gclub Sports.