We have been treated to so many great comebacks this season in the Premier League and also in the Champions League but it looked as if Real Madrid were wired differently because they have always done things the hard way and got away with it. I couldn't believe that City got this close and they tanked it.
Never say never in football and even if a minute is still left on the clock, it's more than enough for any team to do the impossible which was what Real Madrid did after they scored 2 goals in a minute (thanks to Rodrygo) after Mahrez already put Manchester City ahead to drag the game to extra time. It was Benzema's penalty that won it for Real Madrid and I was in awe of their belief and fight.
I could have sworn that City would win the game because of how Real Madrid played with no real fight during the game but it took just some moments of brilliance to make up for the initial worrying performance. City thought they had it in the bag until the 90th minute when Rodrygo did what he knows how to do best and this time around, he got two goals without a reply. What a crazy game it was.
With Real Madrid's history that they have never failed to score in 28 games, I knew they would score but I felt it would go against them because they have never overturned a game, especially at this stage; semi-final of this competition before. Now, they rewrote their history and made us understand that the impossible is just a word and there is nothing that cannot be changed.
I saw Carlo Ancellotti bereft of ideas for a minute but after taking out Kroos and Modric, I felt he didn't know what he was doing. The same way he took out Kroos during the game at Chelsea and it worked for him. He knew he needed extra hands upfront and since he has nothing else to lose, he gambled it and it paid off because Camavinga played his heart out and Rodrygo got the two goals. Just as the substitution won the game for Liverpool against Villareal, I have to admit that the same worked for Real Madrid against Manchester City.
Pep's overthinking worked against him yet again. He has been leading deservedly up to the 85th minute, I don't understand why he wouldn't bring on another defender or another holding midfielder just to protect that lead. This is what can never happen with Mourinho, as much as we want to say his tactics are negative but he is only trying to protect his lead which Guardiola didn't do and he has himself to blame for that, as well as the players who felt the game was already done since Real Madrid didn't attack as we had hoped.
This is another season without a Champions League medal for Manchester City and despite all their investments, you would expect them to cross the finish line and lift the trophy at least once in their history. As usual, they came short and that's the reality with City under Pep Guardiola. This is the only trophy missing in his cabinet for City and he just couldn't get it done. You would have to ask him why.
I know he gets off the hook without playing with a recognized striker in the league but Europe is another ball game. We all can see the kind of difference a striker like Benzema can make and maybe if he had gotten Harry Kane, the result would have been different and now we would have to think about if he would reignite that interest in the summer.
Football is crazy and we just got another dose from Real Madrid who enjoys doing it the hard way to treat us to exciting games. I don't think they should do that against Liverpool in the final because Liverpool can be unforgiving. If Liverpool wants a shot at winning, they need to take most of their chances and bombard Real Madrid with goals as fast as they can because we all know that Real Madrid won't lie down until the final whistle is blown.
I thought the PSG game was crazy until I watched them do the same thing to Chelsea. Now, I've seen them do the same to City which Pep Guardiola should have seen coming due to what Real Madrid did before that. Now, Liverpool should get the message that impossible is what Real Madrid is all about and Jurgen Klopp wouldn't want to fall a victim just like what overthinking Pep did.
What a final we have on our hands; Real Madrid v Liverpool. We wait...
Thank you for your time.
My pen doesn't bleed, it speaks, with speed and ease.
Still me,
My tongue is like the pen of a ready writer.
Olawalium; (Love's chemical content, in human form). Take a dose today: doctor's order.