Pep Guardiola said he had “no regrets” after holders Manchester City were knocked out of the Champions League after a dramatic penalty shoot-out.
City dominated the game, equalising through Kevin De Bruyne in the 76 th minute, but were unable to win it in normal time and extra-time, before losing when it went to sudden-death. Although Luka Modric missed Real's first spot-kick, the 14-time winners scored the rest of their penalties, with Mateo Kovacic and Bernardo Silva missing for City.
Real go through to a semi-final showdown with Bayern Munich, with City left to try to secure a domestic double of the Premier League and FA Cup. Guardiola said: “I would have preferred to win, of course, but congrats to Real Madrid, they defended so deep with such solidarity.
“We did absolutely everything - I don't have any regrets. We played exceptionally in all departments but unfortunately we could not win.
"I have to say thank you to these players from deep in my heart because of the way they played. But football is about winning and we didn't do enough yet we were exceptional.
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"Sometimes you can win on penalties and sometimes you cannot. But in the game we did not convert the chances that we had, even though we defended really. Everyone performed at a high level. We said we would have to be at our best to play Real Madrid and they were."
City defender Ruben Dias said: "I don't know what to say. It's frustrating. We dominated the whole game and then you go to penalties. The effort was there. We had chances. It's a difficult one to take.
"You always end up doing everything to try to avoid penalties. That's what they wanted. The team was there. We fought, we had our chances, but it wasn't our day.
“Now we have to look forward at what's to come in the season. We don't have much time to rest. It's a busy part of the season. “Now is a time to be strong, especially in the head. We're still in two important competitions."
Jude Bellingham, who scored in the shoot-out for Real, said: "It's a relief. You put so much into the game. I've played against City before and they snatch it away from you. I was pretty much dead on my feet at the end.
"It's so difficult. They are continuously probing with the ball and move you around. Most teams would fall apart when City get on top of you, but we stood up really well.
"You have to see it as a responsibility not a pressure if you want to play for a team like Real Madrid. Today it came down to mentality. It's beautiful. My brother was here today, the first time he's seen me play for Madrid."
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