If someone told you in August that Leicester City would be the only English team in the last eight of the Champions League, you’d have struggled to believe them.
In fact, if they said that last week then you’d have been hesitant to agree.
However, while the Foxes have made their way into the quarter-finals after edging past Sevilla, both Arsenal and Manchester City have fallen in the round of 16.
Like Arsenal, defensive fragilities had a part to play in City’s downfall, as they conceded three goals home and away to Monaco to go out on away goals.
Pep's reaction to Monaco's third goal tells its own story! 😡😤😡 #UCL pic.twitter.com/WTLNgdcecZ
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 15, 2017
While rival fans might claim they don’t care too much about City’s European efforts, there often seems to be a desire to poke fun at their manager, Pep Guardiola.
Indeed, even before the final whistle blew at the Stade Louis II, criticism was coming his way.
https://twitter.com/rackedupshawwty/status/842111516618940420
After Monaco opened up a two-goal half-time lead, Guardiola had to make changes. That he did, but had the damage already been done?
https://twitter.com/TheM_L_G/status/842121514514276352
A miss from Sergio Aguero was one of the flashpoints of the second half, and had he scored there’s every chance City would have progressed.
We may never see Aguero after this game. Pep is surely going to bludgeon him to death.
— Zito (@_Zeets) March 15, 2017
Soon enough, however, the predictable schadenfreude took over.
https://twitter.com/the_itch1980/status/842123838087434241
But did Guardiola have a bigger plan all along?
Even if City go out from here, going out of the CL with a 6-6 score purely to further taunt United is really something to be respected.
— Michael Keshani (@MichaelKeshani) March 15, 2017
Perhaps not, on reflection.
https://twitter.com/hmclandress/status/842127700718419968
https://twitter.com/kevinmccauley/status/842127388804800521
