Guardiola’s ‘wrong calls’ killed Man City, says Hamann

Manchester City’s Spanish manager Pep Guardiola reacts during the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and Manchester City at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on May 4, 2022. – Real Madrid won the match 3-1. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)

Former Liverpool midfielder, Dietmar Hamann, has blamed Pep Guardiola for Manchester City’s stunning Champions League exit at the hands of Real Madrid on Wednesday night, claiming he ‘suffocates’ his players and does not give them enough ‘responsibility’ in big matches.

City appeared to have one foot in the final in Paris when Riyad Mahrez put them two goals ahead on aggregate with 17 minutes to go, but Real forced extra-time with a sensational comeback.

Rodrygo scored twice in 90 seconds to level the tie before Karim Benzema’s penalty in extra-time sent Real through at the expense of Guardiola’s devastated City side in one of the most dramatic matches in Champions League history.

Guardiola has faced criticism for his side’s failure to progress, which prolongs the club’s wait for a first Champions League crown.

Manchester City’s Spanish coach Josep Guardiola reacts during the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and Manchester City at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on May 4, 2022. (Photo by GABRIEL BOUYS / AFP)

“If you give players responsibility they act responsible,” Hamann wrote on Twitter. “If you try to play the game for them they won’t.

“Guardiola suffocates teams and players to make their own decisions. Compare that to Ancelotti’s or Klopp’s teams.”

Hamann later told Football Daily: “You can’t win games on a tactics board. Once the whistle goes the players have got to make decisions