Richard Keys has taken aim at what he calls a Pep Guardiola "meltdown" after Manchester City's Champions League heartbreak.
The Premier League champions were undone by two late goals at Real Madrid before Karim Benzema sent them crashing out with an extra-time penalty. City had looked to be sailing into the final, but couldn't see out the game in Spain as their wait for Europe's top prize continues.
Domestically City were able to steal a march, taking advantage of Liverpool 's draw with Tottenham by beating Newcastle 24 hours later. Following the 5-0 win Guardiola claimed that the country were backing the Reds in the title race as they attempt to overhaul a three point gap to City with three games left.
Keys wrote following Guardiola's claim: "Anyone that didn’t know how badly Guardiola took last week’s CL defeat only had to watch his post-match interview Sunday. What on earth was that all about? Look. I get it. I’ve seen enough of them. Post-match managers can be a little irritable and occasionally one daft question (or to be more accurate its usually a series of statements) too many sends them over the edge."
He continued: "But listening to Guardiola took me back to the playground. ‘Miss - he doesn’t like me. Tell him. It’s not fair’. My goodness. Really? What? The Press don’t like City? And the country loves Liverpool? Come on. I can’t remember a time when Liverpool have ever been the neutrals darlings."
Keys then took aim at another City shortcoming in Europe - the sixth time Guardiola's been unable to deliver the Champions League to the blue half of Manchester.
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He added: "It wasn’t a spur of the moment thing. It had obviously been simmering for days since City’s latest meltdown. He knew what was likely to follow their defeat in Madrid. He doesn’t like criticism. He doesn’t like inquisitors having the temerity to question him about football. His sarcasm if he hears something he doesn’t like is also childish.
"The bottom line is he’s come up short again. He knows it. It seems he can’t win it - despite the billions. One job in Munich - failed. But the coach working either side of his tenure did win it. One job in Manchester - failed."
Guardiola's last Champions League success came back in 2011 during his Barcelona tenure. Since being appointed as City boss the Catalan has come unstuck in Europe by the likes of Monaco, Liverpool, Tottenham and Lyon.
