Pep Guardiola fires back at Man City critics after Champions League exit

Pep Guardiola disputed the suggestion that his Manchester City side lacked character and insisted that their Champions League exit was not a failure.

In a passionate performance facing the media in person for the first time since their heartbreaking defeat to Real Madrid, the coach spoke about his pride at being in charge of his group of players and having owners who do not judge his success by trophies. While he said that he would accept their semi-final exit as a failure - particularly given the nature of their dramatic collapse - Guardiola completely disagreed with the suggestion.

Another painful exit has left many wondering if City can ever win the Champions League, and their manager admitted that he could not answer whether they could or would. However, he launched a lengthy defence of his side that addressed much of the criticism levelled at them since Wednesday and also sought to place their achievements ahead of nearly every other club in Europe.

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"I'm not saying it is a failure or not. People say if this group of players won't win the Champions League they will be failures. I accept it," he began in an emotional statement. "I completely disagree, in sport we know how difficult everything's but I accept it. I'm not going to make a debate about who is right or wrong. I say as a club, as a feeling that we have, we start and try to do it. Of course we are sad.

"We didn't talk because everyone was sad that we couldn't do it. Above me, the players wanted to play in the final of the Champions League but for this club to compete against Real Madrid the way we did it is a joy. I won't forget one week ago the way we