'It's not true' - Pep Guardiola fires back at Man City Champions League exit criticism

Pep Guardiola insists Manchester City did everything they could to progress against Real Madrid in the Champions League this week and fired back at the suggestion that they weren't good enough at the Etihad.

City dominated the game against Real on Wednesday but conceded an early goal by Rodrygo and took an hour to get back on terms as the Spanish giants dropped deeper and deeper. As the contest went into extra time, City's players tired and Real's resolve strengthened, and it was the visitors who came out on top in the lottery of penalties.

Guardiola was philosophical after the game and his stance did not change when previewing City's trip to Wembley to take on Chelsea in the FA Cup, even if the Blues' dream of a treble is over. "We don't have another option and don't want to feel sorry for ourselves. In football you lose games," he insisted.

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"We performed at our best but were not able to win. What next? We don't have time to reflect, we reflect in summertime on what happened during all the season. Football, you compete to win - that is what we have done - but sometimes you lose games. That is what happened.

"You want to play 120 minutes how we played the last 80 minutes against Madrid? Do you know which team we were facing? Did you expect they wouldn't have the ball or create the chances or have the opportunities to create that? And now sitting here do you think we were going to win another Treble? And next season another Treble? And we are going to win the Premier League by 20 points? It's not true."

Guardiola insisted that his side produced their best performance