Erling Haaland transfer is the solution to Man City Champions League heartbreak

It looked all wrapped up. Done and dusted. Destiny fulfilled.

Manchester City had sealed their place in the Champions League final with a measured and controlled performance in the cauldron of the Bernabeu. They had stood off, absorbed pressure and hit a lethal counter to increase their advantage. A year on from their agonising defeat in their first final, they had once again climbed the mountain ready to make amends. Who against? Well, of all teams Liverpool — their great rivals. The two teams that have dominated England for the last five years to fittingly meet each other in club football's biggest game.

It was all so perfect. Until it wasn't. Of all of City's spectacular exits from the Champions League under the tutelage of Pep Guardiola, Wednesday's night defeat to Real Madrid was by far the most painful, infuriating and utterly remarkable. In the 90th minute, they were in the final. Six minutes of game time later and they had lost. Ecstasy to agony.

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Unlike City's other failures in Europe's top competition, there wasn't an obvious error on the Blues boss' part to point towards. There was no inexplicable exclusion of a defensive-midfielder, no peculiar formation change, no strange tactic. No overthinking. Guardiola did everything right.

He picked the right team in both legs and dominated the tie, leading for 178 minutes of it. In the second leg, City played the match to perfection. They stifled Madrid's momentum as much as possible, not allowing the Bernabeu to roar in support, causing frustration, limiting chances. They struck when the opportunity presented itself for Riyad Mahrez and sent some of the home