End of the Round of 16 in the Champions League with the very predictable elimination of Manchester City against Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabéu. The English team, champion in 2023 of the tournament, is experiencing its worst season since Pep Guardiola arrived on the bench. They weren't favorites in this round, but the Spanish coach's changes in his line-up made it seem that the comeback was almost like a miracle.
Many point out that the decline in the current Premier League championship is caused by the serious injury of Rodri Hernández, something that affects. However, there are other components, and Atlético de Madrid has benefited from one of the biggest surprises in recent years. From the Etihad, in fact, they don't rule out having to look for a new coach, as many voices suggest a change of cycle.
Pep Guardiola's Worst Mistake
Manchester City has suffered one of the most spectacular falls of the last decade, being one of the biggest disappointments in Europe this season. It seems that this decline started when Pep Guardiola allowed the departure of Julián Alvarez, one of the most decisive and ambitious players he had. The Spaniard didn't object to the world champion's departure to Atlético de Madrid after having participated in the creation of more than 30 goals last season.
In fact, he had been much more prominent than many remembered, being a piece that forced Erling Haaland to never drop to his level. Pep Guardiola himself admitted in the preview that Julián Alvarez would have had a lot of weight this season, especially due to injuries. Now, he hasn't been able to reach the Round of 16 of the Champions League, and in England, rumors are beginning to emerge of a possible departure from the bench.
Simeone, the Happiest with the Decision
At this point, he is the top scorer of the red-and-white team with 17 goals, and everything indicates that he will surpass the records of other great scorers. For now, barring a major surprise, he will have better numbers than in his best season with Manchester City, in which he scored 19 goals across all competitions. One of the aspects in which Julián Alvarez stands out the most is his desire to continue achieving titles, despite having many trophies in his career.
He is one of the players who shows the most work and effort in every match, something that surely would have been very beneficial for Manchester City. Now, Atlético de Madrid is waiting to know their opponent for the next round in this Friday's draw, having only two possible options. Bayern Munich or Real Madrid will be chosen to face the colchonero team, with the second leg at the Metropolitano.