Brazilian midfielder Fernando deflected Gareth Bale’s cross into his own net after 20 minutes at the Santiago Bernabeu for the only goal of the tie after the first leg ended goalless.
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But those bare statistics do not tell the full tale of a match that was dominated by the Spanish giants and their margin of victory could have been much greater. Manchester City’s Joe Hart pulled brilliant saves throughout the match, particularly those of Ronaldo, Modric and Bale. We knew we needed to score and in the first game in Manchester we deserved to. We had a lot of experience of being in the semi-finals and we did a very professional job.
And the 30-year-old has revealed the admiration is mutual, telling reporters: “I am happy to say I wish the best to El Cholo [Simeone], who wants a Ramos in his team”.
“But I don’t think we can be bothered by criticism”.
True, the visitors suffered an early disruption when captain Vincent Kompany hobbled off after just ten minutes with a thigh strain, but for a team of their class to succumb so timidly was embarrassing.
But Bale insists Madrid fully deserved to progress after controlling the majority of the two games, saying afterwards: “I don’t think we were lucky”.
“What we didn’t have was the creative players”. Tonight and the game we played at the Etihad we saw very equal teams. We are in the final, which was our aim. The England number one made a series of fine saves, including three from fit-again dangerman Cristiano Ronaldo, while Bale also headed against the bar. “It’s going to be a hard game, but we’re confident we can win”. Will Ronaldo break his own record against the same opponents in the 2016 UEFA Champions League final? “It is a question of all the people working with me and the most important people are the players”.
The difference in European pedigree between the clubs couldn’t have been starker as Madrid were playing in their 27th semi-final, whilst City were in the last four for the first time.
“Of course if you don’t reach the final you miss an opportunity”, Pellegrini said. “The reason I came here was to win Champions Leagues”, said the Welshman.
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“I have got one already and now I have a chance to win another one”.
