But City boss Pellegrini did not agree with official statistics that said Real had 15 attempts on goal to his side’s four and claimed defeat was harsh on the visitors. Instead he pointed to a lack of creativity from both teams but did concede disappointment at City failing to reach the showpiece in Milan on May 28th.
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“It’s a final, there are no favourites”, Ronaldo said. “A lot of things happened in these games but it is unusual to be so high in the table when we didn’t win those kind of games against the top teams”.
“I think we played a great game”.
Real Madrid managed to get past the English team Manchester City.
“We tried to create but we couldn’t”.
“When you get to the semi-finals you always want more so we’ll certainly try to get our revenge next year”. “We worked very well for 90 minutes and that’s why Real Madrid couldn’t create but after the work, you need to be creative and players to make the difference in the last third, and today we couldn’t”. “We’re very strong defending, but also we scored out of the Calderon [against Bayern], that is not easy”.
Real Madrid advance to the final and will take on Atletico Madrid in the final at San Siro, Milan on May 28. “See you at the final and ¡hala Madrid”, he commented.
Pellegrini said: “Of course it was not the best way to start the semi-final to lose your captain”. We are facing Atletico again and I’m happy. “Who cares what football we play?”
Since breaking Atletico hearts in Lisbon, Real have faced their local rivals 10 times and won just once, Javier Hernandez’s late goal knocking Diego Simeone’s side out of the Champions League in last season’s quarter-finals. I admire him as a coach and as a person, and I hope that he stays with us. We had a lot of experience of being in the semi-finals and we did a very professional job. The player who had been bought by Real from Tottenham for a huge amount of money in exchange, that is 100 million euros, made the most of Cristiano Ronaldo’s absence and enforced himself as the hero of his team.
Madrid are one point behind La Liga leaders Barcelona with two games left in the season.
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Expectations will certainly rise next season as Guardiola takes charge at the Etihad Stadium from the outgoing Pellegrini. “Today as well, we were the better team and it is fair that we are in the final”.
