Didi Hamann blames Pep Guardiola for Man City’s loss to Real Madrid

"Guardiola suffocates teams and players."

Didi Hamann has criticised Pep Guardiola following Manchester City's dramatic elimination from the Champions League by Real Madrid on Wednesday night. Guardiola's team were leading 1-0 in the Champions League semi-final second leg, and 5-3 on aggregate, going into the final few minutes at the Bernabeu. However, Madrid mounted a stunning comeback. Rodrygo scored twice in stoppage time to take the tie to extra-time. Karim Benzema then scored a penalty to secure Real's place in the final on May 28th against Liverpool.

Didi Hamann: Guardiola 'suffocates' his teams.

Following the match, Man City manager Guardiola struggled to explain how his team suffered such a dramatic collapse. Hamann, however, has blamed the former Barcelona coach for the loss. The ex-Man City and Liverpool midfielder suggested that the Catalan coach strips his players of agency by trying to 'play the game for them' and micro-managing matches. So, according to Hamann, the City players struggle when they are forced to 'make their own decisions' in games. The former Germany midfielder compared Guardiola unfavourably to Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and Carlo Ancelotti, the Real Madrid manager. "If you give players responsibility they act responsible," Hamann said on Twitter. "If you try to play the game for them they won’t. Guardiola suffocates teams and players to make their own decisions. Compare that to Ancelotti's or Klopp's teams." "Never seen a team as helpless as City in last 15 minutes. Usually, you always get one more chance they never," Hamann said in his next tweet. https://twitter.com/DietmarHamann/status/1522134327672332288

Guardiola reflects on Man City's loss to Real Madrid.

Hamann continued his criticism of Guardiola on Sky Sports News on Thursday morning. "It was really heartbreaking (for Man City), they led over the two legs for most of the time," he said. "But then again, they conceded five goals when Real Madrid hardly had a chance. Ederson only made four saves in the two legs. "I always feel with Guardiola's teams that he kind of takes the responsibility off them, and you can’t win games on a tactic board. "Once the whistle goes, you have to make decisions and not for the first time, and his teams made the wrong decisions at the wrong time." https://twitter.com/footballdaily/status/1522141387642359808 Related links.

• “Hang on a second” – Delaney and Kerr clash on Pep’s and City’s failings.
• Pep Guardiola tries to explain how Man City collapsed against Real Madrid.
• Real Madrid punish Grealish misses as Man City implode in chaotic climax.