“We didn’t concede many chances but the result shows we found it hard”, said the 43-year-old. “We’re very happy and the most important thing is we’re in the final”. The whole season we have been in the Champions League spots from the beginning to the end. I think that we were the better team and we deserve to be in the final.
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With City playing in their first Champions League semi-final, however, Bale claims that their lack of experience on the big stage contributed to their inability to test Real goalkeeper Keylor Navas.
Despite a frantic finale, though, Madrid continued their record of not conceding a goal at home in the Champions League this season to progress to their 14th European Cup final.
Pep Guardiola has four midfield transfer targets in mind to get Manchester City back to their best next season.
The final will take place on May 28 at the San Siro in Milan, Italy, with the two Spanish city rivals fighting it out to be crowned champions of Europe.
“Semi-finals are always cagey – no-one really wants to make a mistake”. If I was just anxious about the Champions League, I would have changed every important player for the Premier League games. “The players identify with what we propose and we’re very lucky for that”.
“He has turned me into a better player, a goalscorer – before I didn’t score as many goals as I am now”.
“You have to congratulate the team, the players, the coaches and the fans”.
Bayern need to beat Ingolstadt to secure the Bundesliga title with a game to spare and mean that Guardiola has landed the trophy in each season of his reign.
The Chilean lamented his side’s luck as Gareth Bale’s intended cross deflected off Fernando and looped over the helpless Joe Hart for the only goal of the tie.
“Neither of the two teams deserved to win the game”, said Pellegrini. “We’re very strong defending, but also we scored out of the Calderon [against Bayern], that is not easy”.
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With outgoing Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola set to take charge in July, there are issues to tackle ahead of a new era at the Etihad Stadium. Atletico Madrid’s Champions League goal hero Antoine Griezmann says he is learning every day from inspirational coach Diego Simeone. The person who gives the information to the media has not figured out that he did not hurt me, but the team.
