Manager Pep Guardiola commended Manchester City’s adeptness at “adapting quickly to chaos” in their 3-3 first-leg draw against Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals.
The reigning champions took an early lead in the second minute when Bernardo Silva skillfully curled a 25-yard free-kick around the wall and past goalkeeper Andriy Lunin.
However, deflected goals from Eduardo Camavinga and Rodrygo saw Real Madrid overturn the deficit at the Bernabeu.
“We were 2-1 down, playing here without much composure,” Guardiola said.
“This game, in the first three seasons together, we’d have lost 4-1 or 5-1 as we were not stable emotionally.”
City, who secured their first Champions League title last season as part of a historic Treble, entered this match with Kevin de Bruyne on the bench. The Belgium midfielder fell ill before kick-off.
Guardiola said: “One of the secrets at the high levels is to adapt quickly to chaos. There is no time to complain.
“You need time to learn and now we are more stable and hopefully in the future we can do better and better.”
City had struggled to create quality chances in the final third until Phil Foden, who had been relatively quiet in the game, found space just outside the area and unleashed a shot into the top corner to level the score.
Shortly after, left-back Josko Gvardiol cut inside and scored with a brilliant right-footed shot, marking his first goal since joining City from RB Leipzig in the summer.
However, Madrid responded with a remarkable volley from Federico Valverde to equalize, setting up an exciting second leg on Wednesday, 17 April, at the Etihad Stadium. City notably defeated Madrid 4-0 in last season’s semi-finals at the same venue.
“We take the result and in one week in Manchester, with our people, it will be sold out and they will help us,” Guardiola added.