Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola admitted his side would need a rebuild after what he has labelled as currently their worst season following their exit from the UEFA Champions League.
Kylian Mbappe netted a hat-trick as Real Madrid defeated City 3-1 on Wednesday to secure a 6-3 aggregate win.
It is the third time in four seasons that City have been eliminated by the record winners — however, it is the first time under Guardiola that the Cityzens have failed to qualify for the last 16.
“The better team won,” Guardiola told Spanish TV station Movistar.
“We have had a bad year in the competition. If you finish 22nd, it is because we haven’t been right. It has been our worst year.”
Injuries have also not aided City’s struggles this season – as Erling Haaland did not come off the bench at the Santiago Bernabeu due to a knee injury while John Stones had to be replaced inside the first 10 minutes.
City’s consolation goal came thanks to two of their January signings as Nico Gonzalez pounced on a rebound after Omar Marmoush’s free-kick cannoned off the crossbar.
Guardiola admitted the rebuild had already begun as City spent £170 million, recruiting Marmoush, Gonzalez, Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis to the club during the mid-season transfer window.
“It is normal. Nothing lasts forever and in the group there are players that have marked an era,” Guardiola added.
“We cannot deny what this group of players have done, winning six Premier Leagues in seven years given what that competition is.
“In Europe always getting to the quarter-finals, semi-finals, final. It says a lot about what we have done.”
