Pep Guardiola: Man City got reward we deserve after outclassing Real Madrid

Pep Guardiola said his Manchester City players got the reward they deserved after dominating Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals to set up a final showdown with Inter Milan.

A double from Bernardo Silva, an own goal from Eder Militao, and a late strike from substitute Julian Alvarez secured an emphatic 4-0 win at the Etihad on Wednesday night as City ran out 5-1 winners on aggregate.

The masterclass not only kept City's bid for the treble alive – City are on the brink of a third straight Premier League title and face rivals Manchester United in the FA Cup final – but also delivered a measure of revenge for their heartbreaking defeat to Real at the same stage last season.

On that occasion, City held a two-goal advantage with only a few minutes remaining of the second leg before Real struck three times at the death to advance to the final. There was no denying City this time, and they will be overwhelming favourites against Inter in Istanbul.

“These guys have done it for many years and today they got the reward they deserve. A final against an Italian team,” Guardiola said. “When the draw was Real Madrid, I said, 'want it'. Today it was there. I'm very pleased for the organisation, the chairman, owner and players.

“I had the feeling these last days we had a mix of calm and tension to play these types of games.

“I remember that in an interview Toni Kroos said Madrid was special because they could have been beaten 10-2 at the Etihad (last season)," Guardiola added. “When one of the best players in the world and one of the best I ever trained he says that then we were there. It was tough the way we lost.

“You have to swallow poison and swallow everything, be kind and football and sport always gives you another