Jack Grealish has opened up about Manchester City's 'devastating' defeat to Real Madrid in the semi-finals of last year's Champions League as the two teams prepare to lock horns once more.
After beating Madrid 4-3 in the first leg at the Etihad, City were ultimately knocked out by two stoppage time goals from Rodrygo and a Karim Benzema penalty in extra-time. Grealish did not start either game, but was introduced as a substitute in the second leg.
"It was horrible," Grealish told the Daily Mail when reflecting on the defeat. "The thing that p****d me off the most was their second goal. Dani Carvajal gets it and crosses.
"I was so leggy. I didn't feel fit, just miles off it and blowing. I just put a leg up to try and stop the cross and it was just sloppy. They scored and we know what happened. I was devastated after that, man. I was so down."
Real Madrid went on to beat Liverpool 1-0 in the final and are targeting yet another European crown this year. However, Grealish is confident City can get past them this time around, insisting he has "never had so much confidence and belief in my team-mates and myself before".
"Listen, we are in exactly the same position as last year in Europe," he added. "Real Madrid again. Three games away from winning the Champions League.
"All I can say is that I have never had so much confidence and belief in my team-mates and myself before a game as I have before going there next week. Well, apart from when I was six and thought I was the best player in the world…"
City boss Pep Guardiola, meanwhile, hailed Real Madrid as the standard-bearers for success in Europe given they have won five of the past nine Champions Leagues and have lifted twice as many European Cups as any other club in history. "I think all the clubs in the world have the feeling if you want to win this competition you have to beat Real Madrid right now," Guardiola said.
"Before it used to be Barcelona, but now it's Real Madrid. I heard that they have reached 11 semi-finals in 13 years – so hats off. We are three [in a row] and what we have done is incredible to reach the Champions League semi-final."
