Real Madrid have been accused of showing Manchester City a lack of respect after two players were singled out for criticism in Wednesday’s defeat. Carlo Ancelotti’s team were brushed aside 4-0 in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final at the Etihad.
The tie was level at 1-1 heading into the match in Manchester following last week’s game at the Bernabeu. But it appeared there was a vast difference in quality between the two teams in the early stages of the second leg.
City easily could have been ahead but for fine saves from Thibaut Courtois, who kept out headers from Erling Haaland on two occasions. The hosts eventually led midway through the half when Bernardo Silva gave Courtois the eyes and tucked his strike in the near post.
Silva scored again eight minutes before half-time to round off a hugely dominant half of football for Pep Guardiola’s side. Former Real striker Michael Owen and ex-City defender Joleon Lescott were in the BT Sport studio to give their verdicts at half-time.
Owen was full of praise for City but singled out Eduardo Camavinga and Toni Kroos, claiming both could have done more to stop City’s opener. He said: “We can try to pick holes.
“Maybe Camavinga there, he doesn’t get back in. Actually, he comes out and tries to press the ball, probably needs to stay in the left-back position.
“But we’re splitting hairs, this team is just impossible to defend against. Kroos maybe, could he come back and help?”
Lescott agreed and even claimed Real showed a lack of respect by sitting off Kevin De Bruyne, who set up the opener. Lescott replied: “Yeah [Kroos], it’s like a lack of acknowledgement of who’s in possession, or a lack of respect that Kevin de Bruyne’s in possession because he’s going to find that pass.
“If there’s an angle there, he will find it. It’s just clear that Real Madrid defend as individuals, they don’t have any identity out of possession in this instance, in this game.
“It wasn’t the case in the first leg but this leg it’s like we’re going to rely on that individual brilliance, but it hasn’t been the case.”
Owen again name-checked Camavinga for the second goal after the Frenchman was caught out of possession. He said: “Camavinga actually gets back in and starts marking Silva again and then he sees [Ilkay] Gundogan and thinks ‘I’ve just got to go’ and he leaves his man.
“There’s that many players that sprint forward for Manchester City – you’ve even got centre halves sprinting forward. What chance have you got? That was as big a mauling as I’ve seen in a long, long time.”
Lescott, who often played at left-back in his career, was also unimpressed with Camavinga. He said: “Sometimes less is more.
“We see Camavinga working hard but sometimes it’s a case of staying where you are and being hard to break down. You’re creating space for Man City by just running around and showing a lack of experience.”
City kept a slightly improved Real at bay in the second half before an Eder Militao own goal and a late Julian Alvarez strike sealed a 4-0 win. The 5-1 victory on aggregate sets up a final against Inter Milan on June 10.
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