Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has claimed his team is in "big trouble" after collecting injuries to key players during the ill-tempered Champions League quarter-final clash with Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.
City progressed to the semi-finals 1-0 on aggregate after a goalless draw at the Wanda Metropolitano, and while Guardiola was pleased to keep alive their European ambitions, he was more concerned about the fitness of Kevin de Bruyne and Kyle Walker who were both forced off early.
Having faced Premier League title rivals Liverpool last Sunday prior to the trip to Madrid, City face the Reds again on Saturday in the FA Cup semi-finals. Whereas Liverpool made seven changes to the team for their quarter-final second leg against Benfica, Guardiola made just two for the match in Madrid.
"Today we celebrate because it is the third time in Manchester City's history we are in the Champions League semi-finals," Guardiola told BT Sport. "But we can't forget we played three days ago, travelled, came here, have a lot of injuries now and I don't know what will happen in the next weeks.
"We cannot play all the time and score four or five goals, we are human beings - we come from a difficult game against Liverpool. We are in big trouble."
In an encounter that saw tempers flare, City had to contend with the trademark physicality of Atletico who showed far more ambition that last week's first leg. The Spanish champions had Felipe sent off for a dangerous challenge on Phil Foden, having received an earlier booking for an elbow on the England midfielder. The second foul caused an on-field tussle, which saw Atletico defender Stefan Savic appear to headbutt Raheem Sterling and pull Jack Grealish's hair.
The tension continued after the final whistle, with video footage appearing to show Atletico and City players and staff engaged in heated arguments in the tunnel as police arrived to intervene. There have also been claims that Guardiola had liquid thrown over him but the City manager refused to be drawn into the incident.
"Everyone saw the action, but I have nothing to say," he said. "It is the champion of Spain and they played with energy and, in the second half, were better than us and we were lucky we didn't concede. In the first half we had chances, overall we are in the semi-finals - it is well deserved.
Atletico v Man City player ratings
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ATLETICO RATINGS: Jan Oblak 6. Relieved as a 32nd minute shot hit the post before he headed the ball straight to Felipe in a nervy exchange which they survived. Much quieter in the second half as his side improved and attacked. AFP -
Marcos Llorente 7. Made an early clearance, then sent a diagonal ball into the City penalty area on 20. Booked 10 minutes from time. AP -
Stefan Savic 8. Set off on a solo counter-attack on 22 minutes but ran into a dead end. Tried to drag Foden to his feet at the start of nine minutes of added time after the challenge which led to Felipe being sent off. AP -
Felipe 5. Smashed into the back of Foden’s head on 12 minutes before being booked for a lunge on De Bruyne. Lost his head at the end after he was sent off for a second yellow – after a foul on Foden. Reuters -
Reinildo Mandava 8. The Mozambique international only signed in January but can take great satisfaction from his performance. Getty -
Renan Lodi 7. Up against the formidable Kyle Walker and he knew it, though Lodi attacked down the right after 35. Fouled by Stones on 44, which invoked fury from his teammates. Getty -
Antoine Griezmann 6. First moment of real action came with a run towards goals on 46 minutes. Shot wide on 57 as his side finally came to life. EPA -
Koke 7. A big admirer of the way City play but it’s not easy to play in midfield against them, as he found out. Superb pass for Greizmann and tried to pick out Joao Felix in a bright start to the second half. Getty -
Geoffrey Kondogbia 7. ‘Pride. Passion. Feeling’ read the huge banners before the game. Would that be enough? Kondogbia managed Atletico’s first shot on target of the entire tie … after 124 minutes. AP -
Thomas Lemar 6. Key to Atletico’s bright, brief start. Set Kondogbia up for a 34th minute shot in a rare Atletico first half attack when they had 37 per cent of possession. AFP -
Joao Felix 7. Limited service as City had far more of the ball but skilful when he was on it. Stretched to get onto a cross and then a header in Atletico’s best moment after half time. Getty -
Rodrigo De Paul 7. On for Koke on 69. Shot wide within a minute of entering the pitch, then volleyed wide after 76 minutes as Atletico pushed for an equaliser. Getty Images -
SUBS: Yannick Carrasco 7. On for Greizmann on 69. Smashed a shot wide on 79 minutes. Reuters -
Angel Correa 6. for Lodi on 70 in the third of three quick substitutions. Appealed for a penalty after Rodri pulled back his shirt, then Cancelo fouling him. EPA -
Matheus Cunha 6. On for Lemar on 82 in a late double substitution. A shot blocked by Stones after Correa set him up in a thrilling finish. AFP -
Luis Suarez 6. On for Joao Felix after 82 and straight into an attack but took a touch too many. Getty -
MANCHESTER CITY RATINGS: Ederson - 8, Displayed great awareness to rush out and meet a ball through ahead of Felix. Almost got in trouble when he couldn’t reach a corner into the box but then made a great stop under pressure in the final moments. Vitally clawed away Correa’s shot in the final seconds. EPA -
Kyle Walker - 8, Defended impressively, including cutting out an early cross that looked dangerous, while he also executed a brilliant run and pass for Gundogan’s chance. Was forced off through injury despite trying to carry on. EPA -
John Stones - 9, Showed plenty of authority in his defending, doing well to track Renan Lodi and block the cross, then impressively dispossessing Felix. Was composed on the ball under pressure but couldn’t keep his header down when an opportunity arose in the box. Action Images -
Aymeric Laporte - 8, Looked controlled in his defending, doing well to steer Griezmann wide when he almost got behind early in the second half then heading the ensuing corner clear. EPA -
Joao Cancelo - 8, Put in a lot of good defensive work, doing brilliantly to reach the ball ahead of Griezmann in a threatening scenario, then denied Carrasco with a great late tackle. EPA -
Kevin de Bruyne - 6, Showed plenty of intelligence in the first half, drawing Felipe in for the foul that earned his yellow card, then saw a good strike blocked by Mandava. Quiet in the second period before coming off. AFP -
Rodri - 8, Moved the ball well for large periods and made some important interventions in the middle when it appeared Atletico might break forward. Was pickpocketed in a potentially dangerous area and booked for a late foul. Reuters -
Ilkay Gundogan - 6, Didn’t quite catch his early strike, then hit the post when he should have scored before seeing his follow-up header blocked. Did well to clear Lodi’s pass into the box but hit his late shot straight at Oblak. EPA -
Riyad Mahrez - 6, Made a great run in the early stages but couldn’t find Silva. Played an outrageous pass to Walker in the build-up for Gundogan’s chance. Later in the first half, he beat Lodi but his shot was blocked. Booked for time wasting in injury time. EPA -
Phil Foden - 8, Took a big hit from Felipe that left him requiring a bandage on his head and was often a target for Atletico’s defence,. Coolly teed up Gundogan for a big chance. Made a vital intervention in his own box and did superbly to win a throw late on. Was given a late booking. EPA -
Bernardo Silva - 6, Lost the ball to Savic in a threatening position and while he was busy, there were other occasions where he couldn’t capitalise when it seemed City might be able to open up Atletico. PA -
SUBS: Raheem Sterling (De Bruyne, 65’) - 6, Did well to find Silva in a threatening position, but took too long on the ball on the edge of Atletico’s box. Made a great run and pass to set up Gundogan for his late chance. Reuters -
Nathan Ake (Walker, 73’) – N/R, Was outstanding off the bench. Made decisive headers and a key intervention at the back post. Was booked after a big coming together between the two teams, then got a vital touch on the ball to deny Suarez in the final seconds. AP -
Fernandinho (Silva, 79’) – N/R, Made some superb tackles and showed intelligence to win a foul from Llorente, but a short pass almost got City in trouble. Helped slow the game down at the end. Getty
"The opponent is so tough, all the teams in the Champions League come here and suffer so it is important we go through."
Despite the ugly scenes, Guardiola praised Atletico for their performance and insisted he has nothing against their rugged style of play.
"I have a lot of respect for Atletico. They have a lot of merit in what they do. They can play how they want, I have never criticised Atletico's game and what Diego Simeone does he knows how to do like nobody else in the world."
Atletico manager Simeone, however, was not convinced that Guardiola was being sincere.
"I have no reason to give an opinion about what someone says, good or bad. Very intelligent people with a great lexicon can, with words of praise, despise you. But we that have a lesser lexicon are not stupid," Simeone said.
"I am clear that we are proud of who we are, of how we compete. And I love seeing those who win celebrating it, because it shows once again that the important thing is to win."
Man City now will face the 13-time European champions Real Madrid after they eliminated holders Chelsea on Tuesday.
"They are the Champions League kings, I'm looking forward to it," Guardiola said. "It is the third Champions League semi-final in our history and the second in a row, but if we play like we did in the second half against Atletico, forget it. We won't have anything to do against Real."
