MANCHESTER, England – Pep Guardiola expressed pride in his team’s effort, frustration over the circumstances, and confidence in Manchester City’s future following their third consecutive UEFA Champions League elimination at the hands of Real Madrid.

City faced a daunting task after losing the first leg 3-0. In Tuesday’s return fixture, the challenge worsened when captain Bernardo Silva’s handball led to a penalty and a red card just 22 minutes in, reducing City to 10 men.

“That moment coloured everything that followed,” Guardiola said. “The players have always shown spirit. But after 3-0, after 4-0, and 10 against 11, it was impossible. The future will be bright, and next season we’ll be back.”

Guardiola lamented that the second leg never provided the full test he believed his side deserved.

“I wanted to challenge Madrid over 180 minutes, 11 against 11. That’s all. We are always really good, but 10 against 11 for 75 minutes—if you are one or two up on aggregate, okay. But when you are 4-0 down, it is more complicated,” he said.

The City manager also emphasized the importance of experience for a squad in transition.

“Next season, I don’t know what happens, but Khusanov, Cherki—it’s their first time playing in the Champions League. Antoine Semenyo, too. It needs time. There are a lot of new players. But I saw many good things. We said 3-0 was almost impossible, but we tried.”

Looking ahead, Guardiola urged his squad to focus on domestic competitions. City face a League Cup final against Arsenal on Sunday and are still chasing the Premier League title, nine points behind the leaders with a game in hand.

“We have a final on Sunday. We still have to fight and finish well in the Premier League. Next season, we will be back in the Champions League,” he said.

When asked about his own future, the 55-year-old manager, whose contract runs through 2027, joked: “When I retire in ten years.”

He brushed off criticism that a single Champions League title at City is insufficient. “Everybody wants to fire me! I have to win six Champions Leagues to be recognised,” he said.

Guardiola acknowledged the pressure Real Madrid faces as a club with a winning tradition. “With time, maybe we will get that,” he said.

Addressing City fans, he added: “They know what they have seen. They know it was close.”

Interestingly, Guardiola said his toughest challenge was not Madrid, but his former rival at Liverpool. “No. Juergen Klopp at Liverpool was my biggest challenge. Those games were a great learning experience for the team.”

-Reporting by Lori Ewing; Editing by Toby Davis/Reuters