Amidst the chaos on the touchline and in the tunnel, there was a moment in the centre of the Wanda Metropolitano pitch where the Manchester City starters and substitutes huddled to celebrate reaching the Champions League semi-final for only the third time in the club’s history.
It was a calm and joyous moment after a game where City were forced to show a different side to their game – pure grit and determination. In previous years, City teams of old would crumble under the pressure Atletico Madrid were pilling on, but not this team, they found a way to get through and are now establishing themselves as a European heavyweight.
A crazy 11 minutes of stoppage time started with a brawl on the touchline. Phil Foden was the victim of a viscous kick-out by defender Felipe, with former City player Stefan Savic straight on the scene to drag the England international off the field.
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Oleksandr Zinchenko tried to act as peacemaker, but all 22 players – and coaching staff – were soon gathered around the corner flag trying to separate the two sides. There were headbutts, more hair-pulling and certainly words exchanged, but City managed a situation that was quickly descending into chaos, the best they could.
Speaking post-match, Pep Guardiola said: “We cannot expect every time to make everything marvellous. We have to suffer. I am proud because the opponent (Atletico) was really good.
"We tried to take the ball but were not able (to). With the people and chances they (Atletico) had, they could have scored a goal."
The Catalan was right – City had to suffer. They lost their talisman Kevin De Bruyne and the ever-reliable Kyle Walker midway through the second half due to injuries, but the players who came off the bench shared that same determination to avoid any silly mistakes.
Nathan Ake, who has been a complete castaway at times this season, produced five clearances in a 17-minute cameo. Club captain Fernandinho showed just what City will be missing when he leaves the club in the summer.
The injuries will, of course, be a massive worry for Guardiola, but he will take solace in the fact his players are up for the battle and look determined to win major silverware this season. If a criticism of the past is that the City squad is too ‘soft’ to compete with the very best, Wednesday blew that completely out of the water.
Away from the beautiful football and exquisite individual quality, this City squad know how to battle and are willing to fight for each other to achieve their goals – something their cross-town rivals are struggling to muster at this moment in time.
