Pep Guardiola clearly wasn’t a huge fan of something the Manchester City fans did at the Etihad before the Champions League clash with Real Madrid.
Real Madrid incredibly came back to beat Manchester City 3-2 in the Champions League play-off first leg knock-out game on Tuesday night.
And Pep Guardiola would have woken up this morning scratching his head (literally), asking himself ‘where did it all go wrong’?
Numerous high profile pundits, fans and journalists alike have criticised Ederson for his role in City’s defeat to Madrid.
However, there’s no use in playing the blame game now. There is still a second-leg to be played in Madrid, and after that, a proper and fair inquest will begin.
All the talk before the game centred around the heavyweight showdown, with the likes of Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, Kevin De Bruyne and Vinicius Junior set to face off.
However, another point of discussion was the huge banner planning to be unfurled by the Man City fans – a cheeky dig at Vini Jnr after Rodri won the most recent edition of the Ballon d’Or.
That move clearly backfired, but what does Guardiola think of it all?
Pep Guardiola on controversial move from Manchester City fans
The Man City boss is in a whole world of pain right now. Things just seem to be getting worse and worse for him by the week, with his team unable to hold onto a lead.
The Cityzens were beaten once again last night after taking a 1-0 lead earlier in the game – the fifth time that has happened this season!
Madrid were the better side, and deservedly won the game. However, the ‘Ballon d’Or banner’ on display, adorned with the cheeky ‘Don’t cry your heart out’ swipe at Madrid, was an interesting sub-plot.
Guardiola was asked what his thoughts were on the banner.
And Pep responded in typically evasive fashion, as quoted by the Evening Standard:
“I didn’t see it.
“When they brought that out, I was inside, and I didn’t see it, and I looked for it and I didn’t see it! It wasn’t there anymore when I came out.”
The Man City boss added: “Perhaps it motivated him. He’s an extraordinary player.”
I think Pep knows all too well that unfurling the banner with a thinly veiled dig aimed at Vinicius Junior was a strange move from the Man City fans.
Especially when they have to go out to Spain to take on Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu this time next week!
Why Real Madrid were so upset about Rodri’s Ballon d’Or win
Los Blancos have a decorated history, with some of the very best footballers of all-time having represented them throughout the years.
Madrid are tied at the top with Barcelona with the most Ballon d’Or winners throughout history (12).
| Club | Wins | Players |
| Real Madrid | 12 | 8 |
| Barcelona | 12 | 6 |
| Juventus | 8 | 6 |
| AC Milan | 8 | 6 |
| Bayern Munich | 5 | 3 |
At the most recent Ballon d’Or award ceremony, the Real Madrid fans, players and hierarchy all expected Vini Junior to be crowned as Europe’s best player of the year.
However, Manchester City star Rodri was handed the award instead.
The Real Madrid players and all of their leading officials astonishingly boycotted the awards ceremony as a result (Daily Mail).
Real Madrid even made a statement suggesting that the decision to overlook Vinicius showed that the organisers and UEFA ‘don’t respect them’.
Their behaviour regarding the awarding of the Ballon d’Or was somewhat childish and petulant to say the least.
However, the Spanish giants had the last laugh at the Etihad on Tuesday night. Perhaps the Rodri themed Ballon d’or banner wasn’t the best idea the Manchester City fans have ever had.
Pep Guardiola clearly thinks that deep down as well.
