Gianluigi Donnarumma: Real Madrid disappointment ‘huge’ but tie was over in first leg | OneFootball

Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma has admitted that a 3-0 Round of 16 loss to Real Madrid all but eliminated his side from the UEFA Champions League.

The Blues were knocked out of Europe for the third successive season by Real Madrid this week as Los Blancos claimed a 5-1 aggregate win over Pep Guardiola and co to progress to the quarter-final of the competition.

City were shell-shocked by a 22-minute hat-trick by Federico Valverde in the opening leg in Madrid and despite making a bright start to the game, the eight-time Premier League champions returned home empty-handed and with a mountain to climb in the second leg.

Despite having sent a rallying call to his teammates to pull off the improbable at the Etihad Stadium – where the Blues went on to narrowly lose in the return leg after captain Bernardo Silva was shown a red card after 20 minutes – Donnarumma has admitted that the Round of 16 tie was over in Madrid last week.

It was all uphill after 3-0 loss in Madrid, admits Donnarumma

Speaking to Sky Italia after City’s 2-1 loss at the Etihad Stadium this week, Donnarumma conceded that the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 tie was decided in Madrid.

“We played a great game and had plenty of chances,” the Italy international said. “With 11 men, it would have been a completely different match.

“They (Real Madrid) were better, they scored more goals than us. I think qualification was decided in the first leg, after that it’s all uphill. We have to accept it.

“There are important games to play, the disappointment is huge. But from tomorrow, we’ll have to get back on our feet because on Sunday (against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final) – we already have a title to bring home.”

Donnarumma: We won’t change our way of playing despite Real Madrid exit

Despite Manchester City’s approach against Real Madrid costing them the tie, Donnarumma has stuck by Guardiola’s methods and maintained that the Blues will not pivot from the ways and means that have brought them great success in the recent past.

“We play with a slightly high defence,” the 27-year-old added. “It’s our way of playing, sometimes it gives you advantages and other times disadvantages.

“If you don’t do well, you end up one-on-one. Even if l’m in line with the defence, if the ball is perfect, it’s hard to get to it. Unfortunately, that’s been the case in these two games, but we won’t change.

“It has brought City so many advantages over the years. After losing 3-0 in Madrid, everything becomes more difficult.”

Donnarumma will be rooting for backup goalkeeper James Trafford at Wembley on Sunday after Guardiola confirmed that the 23-year-old Englishman will be in net against Mikel Arteta‘s side in the Carabao Cup final.