Champions League: 'Manchester City's surrender in the Bernabeu is the end of an era'

Manchester City suffered a crushing defeat at the Bernabéu, with their fans witnessing firsthand the team's decline. Faced with Real Madrid's relentless offensive, the away fans endured a torturous experience in the stands, as the team's decline became undeniably evident. The once-dominant team looked lost and outmatched.

In the 80th minute, Mateo Kovacic's weak shot went straight into the hands of Real Madrid goalkeeper Courtois, who probably welcomed the chance to stretch his muscles. By then, Manchester City were already down 0-3, a scoreline that could even be considered flattering. Faced with such a dire situation, the traveling Manchester City fans chose to alleviate their inner pain with self-deprecating humor, cheering and applauding to mock the once-invincible team.

Later, when Manchester City strung together a rare series of passes, the away fans sarcastically chanted "Ole," a clear jab at Pep Guardiola and his team. From the moment Mbappé scored the first of his brilliant hat-trick in just the fourth minute, a sense of impending doom hung over the Bernabéu. Manchester City crumbled in a remarkably timid fashion, leaving a sense of disappointment and regret.

Losing to Real Madrid is common in the Champions League, but losing to them with virtually no resistance signals a sharp decline for Manchester City this season. The team not only failed to reach the Champions League round of 16, but this also marks their first exit at this stage since failing to advance from the group stage in the 2012-13 season. Undoubtedly, this once-glorious team is facing the need for a complete rebuild. As Guardiola said after the match, "Nothing is eternal."

Guardiola admitted, "The best team won, and they deserved to win. It's a benchmark, we have to accept it and move on. Before, when we played better, losing was more painful. We have to accept reality." When asked if a rebuild was necessary, he stated, "We have time, we have 13 Premier League games left to fight for Champions League qualification next season."

Real Madrid's comfortable victory over Manchester City further highlighted the urgency of Manchester City's need for a squad overhaul. While Real Madrid are the defending champions and a powerhouse in the Champions League, Manchester City's matches against Real Madrid in recent years have always been closely contested. This time, however, Manchester City were utterly dismantled in a careless manner. Mbappé's hat-trick showcased his exceptional speed and awareness, and Real Madrid controlled the game from the fourth minute onward.

Two hours before the match, thousands of fans gathered outside the Bernabéu, setting off fireworks to welcome Carlo Ancelotti and his team. The air was thick with anticipation, witnessing a long procession, a painful one for the traveling Manchester City fans. Guardiola has reason to defend himself; Erling Haaland, sidelined with a knee injury sustained in the match against Newcastle United, was confined to the bench, not even participating in the pre-match warm-up. Shortly after Mbappé's goal, John Stones also suffered another injury and had to leave the field.

Manchester City's defeat was not entirely unexpected, given their 2-3 home loss in the first leg. What was disappointing was the manner of their defeat. Manchester City never showed any indication that they believed they could produce the "perfect" performance Guardiola had spoken of to turn the tie around. Their performance was far from "perfect." All indications suggest that after six Premier League titles, one Champions League title, two FA Cups, four League Cups, one European Super Cup, and one Club World Cup, even if Guardiola doesn't need to completely start from scratch, he certainly needs to devise a new plan.

Kevin De Bruyne, a key figure in this team for many years, was relegated to the bench after a poor performance in the first leg. John Stones, 31, remains a crucial player, but he is frequently injured. Ilkay Gündoğan, 34, started the match, but his performance showed that his best days are behind him. Goalkeeper Ederson, 31, has also lost his previous reliability, and Bernardo Silva, soon to turn 30, has lost his previous impact. Similarly, Jack Grealish, 30, was left on the bench.

Manchester City's renewal has already begun, with the team bringing in new faces such as forward Omar Marmoush and midfielder Nico González, as well as 20-year-old defender Abdukodir Khusanov, who struggled in the unfamiliar right-back position. It was a difficult night for the young defender, who was clearly identified as a weak point in the Manchester City lineup and was constantly targeted by the opposition. Guardiola must learn from this painful night that he needs to carry out a ruthless clear-out of the veterans who have contributed so much to him.

Rarely does an elite team's form and strength decline so rapidly and drastically. This team has become too old to rediscover the hunger that drove them to the top year after year. Guardiola has signed a new two-year contract, and his task must be to build a completely new team before discussing his next contract. The Bernabéu is the most unforgiving stage in the Champions League, and its renovated five-tiered stands looked down upon Manchester City's decline.

It was a particularly humiliating night for Guardiola, not only because he watched his daunting task unfold in such a brutal and bloody manner, but also because Real Madrid fans gloated over his Barcelona background. When Guardiola's name was announced before the match, he was greeted with deafening boos. When one of the giant screens captured a close-up of his despair after Mbappé's goal, the entire stadium erupted in cheers.

As the Manchester City players dejectedly left the field after the final whistle, some of them may have left the competition forever. González's late goal provided no consolation. Manchester City once enjoyed a glorious period, illuminating domestic and European competitions with their brilliance, but this night showed that their journey has come to an end, and it is time for change. Real Madrid's disdainful attitude showed that they need fresh blood to return to their former glory. The best teams experience this, and Manchester City used to be the best, but not anymore.