Antonio Rudiger secured Real’s place in the Champions League semi-finals with a penalty after a 4-4 aggregate draw. Haaland shielded Silva from cameras in a touching gesture after the shootout. In a video shared on social media, Haaland and Silva were among the last City players to leave the pitch, with Haaland physically ensuring Silva was not in view of the camera crew.
Haaland gestured to the camera operator before physically blocking the camera’s view of Silva. He wanted to take the attention away from his distraught teammate in a commendable gesture. Despite Silva’s penalty miss, Guardiola praised his performance, emphasizing his reliability and overall game.
He stated that it happens and had no regrets about their efforts in the game. Guardiola revealed that he would have preferred a win but congratulated Real Madrid on their solid defensive performance. Despite the loss, he believed that City played exceptionally well in all departments.
He also mentioned City’s remaining opportunities for achieving a domestic double and their upcoming FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea. City’s elimination means they cannot repeat their treble success from the previous year, but they still have a chance for a domestic double and remain in the FA Cup. Their hopes for another Premier League title triumph have been boosted by recent defeats for Arsenal and Liverpool.