Pep Guardiola has named four teams that he believes can win the Champions League after Manchester City were knocked out by Real Madrid.
City were beaten 6-3 on aggregate by Los Blancos, with Kylian Mbappe netting a hat-trick as Madrid won the second leg of their play-off tie 3-1. Carlo Ancelotti's side are the defending champions, having lifted the trophy for a 15th time last season, and Guardiola believes they are the favourites to win it again this year.
He also named three other potential contenders, but Arsenal were not among them despite the fact that they finished third in the league phase. "Of course Madrid are a contender, definitely," Guardiola said after City's exit.
"But there are other good teams around. It will be an interesting Champions League season. Madrid are always favourites for this trophy. There are other teams who are having a very good season but Madrid are always favourites.
"But there are other teams that are playing very well. Liverpool are having a really good season up until now, Barcelona are amazing, Paris Saint-Germain, with my friend Luis [Enrique] in charge, are on the march. But obviously, Madrid are favourites."
It is the third time in four years that City have been beaten in a knockout tie by Madrid, with Guardiola suggesting this loss was the only deserved one. "The best team won. They deserved it," he admitted.
"This season we haven't been so good – I felt that, in the previous seasons, we were better than Madrid, but this time not so. In this competition, quality always counts. This season Madrid are capable of long [spells of] possession; they were dynamic, they're fast when they run and they pressed well.
"What you have to do is accept it and move on. Nothing is eternal. It was hard to bring the 3-2 [first leg defeat] here but now we have to learn from this and accept that there are another, I don't know… 30 or 40 games to come [this season].
"We have to try to win the FA Cup, we have to try to finish in the top four in the league and we have to try to be back again in this competition next season. I have very little to reproach my squad for in terms of how they've played in the Champions League over the years.
"When we were eliminated by Madrid in the past, I felt we were very close. We reached semi-finals and finals. Tonight, when a team is better sportingly than you, you have to accept it and congratulate them."
Arsenal meanwhile, will face either PSV or Feyenoord in the round of 16, after the Dutch giants knocked out Juventus and AC Milan respectively.
Nixonj
0
How this matter take concern arsenal now
they're looking for more engagement and likes that's all
Nixonj
0
When i read comments on this apps, it looks like child play, like little kids who comes here to type trash. People hardly read to understand before commenting. They just comment from hate and anger. Modern days football fans are just following football with emotion and anger, they can’t make logic and critical analysis in their comments. So called football fans and pundits today just spew out trash 😂.
some don't even read
MANCITYTHECHAMPIONS
0
you ended up saying nothing! Trash
you are a good example of my comment 😂
AhamBuChimezie
1
When i read comments on this apps, it looks like child play, like little kids who comes here to type trash. People hardly read to understand before commenting. They just comment from hate and anger. Modern days football fans are just following football with emotion and anger, they can’t make logic and critical analysis in their comments. So called football fans and pundits today just spew out trash 😂.
you ended up saying nothing! Trash
ekwee
0
real Madrid 6-3 man city arsenal 7-3 man city😂🤣
🤣🤣🤣True 👍
ekwee
0
2:2 5:1. agg 7:3 ,115fc is really a small team
wiccdkmrtz
2
that 5 1 is still hurting him
Buzeilntu
0
When i read comments on this apps, it looks like child play, like little kids who comes here to type trash. People hardly read to understand before commenting. They just comment from hate and anger. Modern days football fans are just following football with emotion and anger, they can’t make logic and critical analysis in their comments. So called football fans and pundits today just spew out trash 😂.
Why not educate than belittle?
zibbcorsy
3
Arsenal won against PSG yet you claim they’re favorites than arsenal
MANCITYTHECHAMPIONS
1
When i read comments on this apps, it looks like child play, like little kids who comes here to type trash. People hardly read to understand before commenting. They just comment from hate and anger. Modern days football fans are just following football with emotion and anger, they can’t make logic and critical analysis in their comments. So called football fans and pundits today just spew out trash 😂.
diwbipyz
4
real Madrid 6-3 man city arsenal 7-3 man city😂🤣
Hoadklruyz
0
English league is different than Champions League , and Arsenal hasn't been a good contender over the past few years so don't think this arsenal team can come win it against Inter Millian and Atletico Madrid who is been challenging well over the past 7 years. If you notice, teams that had won the champion league over the years pass by have been very competitive for at least 6, 7 are always had been a good competitor before they has won, and Arsenal is not one of those team.when it reach certain stages in the champion league with certain side still active in the league up to the round a 16 It gonna take more than just names on the jersey of the players.
cozadkpruy
1
yeah if it's not our time then let it be so
Chafoh
5
I wonder why Guardiola did not mention his friend Mikel Arteta and Arsenal. Could it be that Pep is still angry with Mikel for the 5-1 bashing?
Beziklpyz
1
let him concentrate on his marriage
Kuobklpryz
2
even guardiola knows arsenal can't win anything
rahablnotz
1
he right because Madrid beats him back to back
Rise75
1
Are we the one who knock you out dey play is your name
modaeklnrs
6
Arsenal I trust you my Arteta do your job God's force will hamble you
kahacdouyz
0
His mind is lost. He needs his wife.
miyclnptz
0
Even Pep believes Madrid are always favourite to win the champions league, and yet hater from barca are lamenting over our successes How I wish we meet barca in the grand final
I thought Madrid recently played Barca which Barca won convincingly
yeabdklrst
1
Arsenal don't have striker for those crucial matches.
tjlyon
0
How this matter take concern arsenal now
I Taya o
danoni31
0
Beef and broccoli always,Arsenal humiliated him,never can he back them.It is not easey to swallow the pride.When your apprentice beats you.
we don't even need to argue with pep, its his opinion. It is actually the 90mins that is played that determines who is who.
Vieaeklmtz
0
..."Liverpool are having a really good season up until now"... take note of the "up until now".... He has seen something about Liverpool, they are slowing down, they may not win the EPL
Anfield awaits your team for the final of EPL
cuhceikouz
0
man city ned new coach...pep z old now
Oil money have you not understanding what supporting a team is😂
PrincewaCathy
4
arsenal is win
Tebabcenru
1
he is correct
zanbcemrt
1
Pep is more Barça than all Barça fans put together. And he has spoken the TRUTH about REAL MADRID. Let all our HATERS stop belly-aching. HALA MADRID for life!🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
SmithBradshaw1990
2
..."Liverpool are having a really good season up until now"... take note of the "up until now".... He has seen something about Liverpool, they are slowing down, they may not win the EPL
Yikbnpstz
0
Pep Guardiola entire coaching tactics finished and has finally joined Joseph Mourihno
man City will come back soon
Yikbnpstz
1
Barcelona will win the champions league
muwacnpyz
3
man city ned new coach...pep z old now
feuloprsuz
0
liverpool without mo is below par..!
You wanna chop 4:0 or 5:1 beating again 😂😂😂😂😂
Cetanortu
0
liverpool without mo is below par..!
Mawacknt
3
Even Pep believes Madrid are always favourite to win the champions league, and yet hater from barca are lamenting over our successes How I wish we meet barca in the grand final
Zuwabesz
2
Pep why not become a team of Neville n Carragher pundit
pezaceikn
0
guardiola jus needs another sabbatical
Seddekoprt
1
pep is so corrupt against English teams when it comes to champion league , pep sold the game last season when he took out Kevin and haaland in the last minute for penalty, obviously you pep go to Madrid with a 1% team this season.Pep is very corrupt.
zewdlnrtyz
0
yeah it was a little bit but iterms of the next seasons we need to sell those players whom are not good for us and buy others course I think that's the biggest thing we have at our team and buy a goal keeper
Hey we're donating players eg Onana , Rashford , Casemeiro , Maguire , Shaw, Malacia, etc
PrinceAbobyBlinkz
1
How this matter take concern arsenal now
Kekceknryz
2
man city will never say good thing about us gunners because there out from ucl that's why his undereating Arsenal and because of the lose they had to us (5:1) it's hurting him a lot
Nisbcklnp
0
Pep Guardiola entire coaching tactics finished and has finally joined Joseph Mourihno
AFerujuN4287
1
my-blood-is-red
0
Beef and broccoli always,Arsenal humiliated him,never can he back them.It is not easey to swallow the pride.When your apprentice beats you.
Do u call that beef Arsenal are never in a contest for UCL this season not in 5yrs to come sef
Tebbceopst
2
Pep knows which teams are real European giants and which are just taking part to make up the numbers.
Cieaciklpt
1
yeah it was a little bit but iterms of the next seasons we need to sell those players whom are not good for us and buy others course I think that's the biggest thing we have at our team and buy a goal keeper
Fopabkoru
0
Beef and broccoli always,Arsenal humiliated him,never can he back them.It is not easey to swallow the pride.When your apprentice beats you.
Bibbcdsyz
5
Pep is very respectful, he's not like those short memories people who think that beating Real Madrid guarantee you the league or the champions league.