Pep Guardiola has dismissed the wave of criticism following Manchester City’s heavy defeat to Real Madrid, insisting that backlash is a normal part of competing at the highest level of European football.
City suffered a painful 3–0 loss against Madrid in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 tie, a result that immediately sparked criticism of Guardiola’s tactics and decisions.
However, the Spanish manager appeared unfazed when addressing the reaction.
“It’s 17 years I’m playing in the Champions League. Every time I lose, boom, my God! Pew, pew, pew!” Guardiola said, mimicking the noise of criticism directed toward him.
The City boss suggested that such scrutiny is inevitable for managers operating at the elite level, particularly in a competition as demanding as the Champions League.
Guardiola has been involved in the tournament for nearly two decades as both a player and manager, winning the competition multiple times and regularly guiding his teams deep into the knockout stages. Because of that record, expectations around his teams are often extremely high.