Paul Merson claims Real Madrid are "a million miles behind" Manchester City, despite Carlo Ancelotti's side emerging victorious in their Champions League encounter.
The Spanish giants beat City on penalties to set up a semi-final clash against Bayern Munich, after they drew 4-4 on aggregate. However, Merson felt it was "pure luck" that Real prevailed, with City having 68 percent possession and 33 shots in the second leg.
"Last night's game was embarrassing," Merson told Sky Sports. "Man City did to Real Madrid what they did to Luton. For anybody watching that game, it was mind blowing. It was pure luck that Real got past City.
"They absolutely destroyed them. They embarrassed them. It was one of the most one-sided games I've ever seen, and City were just bang out of luck losing on penalties.
"Real Madrid cannot come away from that game and think they are a better team than Man City. They are a million miles behind them."
Merson also suggested that English sides have suffered in Europe this season due to how competitive the Premier League has been, with just two points separating City, Arsenal and Liverpool in the title race.
"The problem the English teams have is the Premier League," Merson explained. "The intensity of our league is off the scale. Let's start at the top with Man City, Arsenal and Liverpool.
"They are involved in one of the best title races in the history of the Premier League. It's a huge battle for the title with two points separating the top three and that takes a lot out of you physically and mentally.
"They are pushing each other right to the limit week in, week out, but compare that to some of the other teams around Europe and the positions they are in their leagues. The numbers blow your mind away."
City boss Pep Guardiola insisted after the game that he had no regrets about the tie.
"I would have preferred to win, of course, but congrats to Real Madrid, they defended so deep with such solidarity. We did absolutely everything - I don't have any regrets," he said.
"We played exceptionally in all departments but unfortunately we could not win. I have to say thank you to these players from deep in my heart because of the way they played. But football is about winning and we didn't do enough yet we were exceptional."
City midfielder Rodri was far from complimentary on Madrid's display at the Etihad, claiming he "saw only one team" to try win the game.
Dera24
414
Football is about tactics. City came with an attacking mindset and Real Madrid came with a defensive one and at the end the best team won. I can as well easily say Madrid destroyed City defensively. Bunch of biased English pundits with your overhyped league.
Aprekukblankson
363
All the haters that are saying Madrid played shit and was a disgraceful, are some what illiterates. I MAY ADD THAT THEY KNOW NOTHING ABOUT Football. Should we all play the same flow? Which part of football prescribe that both teams must possess the football? According to the beginners guide to football, check out from Google. One side in possession of the ball will try to score and the opposition will try to defend and avoid a goal or infringement. One side with more goals is the winner. This is the only two way to footballing. I don't know what this guy meant when he said disgraceful and lucky. All what city did was attack and what Madrid did was the other way round, to defend. And Madrid were successful but city were not successful at attacking. This same people said city will win but now look at their comments.
zipdilmntu
353
This is the reason no English coach has been able to win the premier league. They'll rather work as pundits where they can make all the wrong choices and not be held accountable. They shamelessly cheer on and kiss the arses of the young spanish coaches that make the premier league interesting because they know they successful coaching is way beyond them. This Merson is probably an even bigger, saltier fool than Carragher. To think that a team that has made the semifinals 12 out of the last 14 times is miles behind a team that just won their first UCL last year is nothing short of idiocy. Passing the ball around aimlessly while forgetting that scoring goals is the goal of the game doesn't make you superior. In fact Man city should feel privileged to have been associated with Real because Madrid is at least 3 eras above them
Aprekukblankson
339
that is the truth 68 ball possession and 33 short a total disgrace any way luck followed them
All the haters that are saying Madrid played shit and was a disgraceful, are some what illiterates. I MAY ADD THAT THEY KNOW NOTHING ABOUT FOOTBALL. Which part of football prescribe that both teams must possess the football? According to the beginners guide to football, check out from Google. One side in possession of the ball will try to score and the opposition will try to defend and avoid a goal or infringement. One side with more goals is the winner. This is the only two way to footballing. I don't know what this guy meant when he said disgraceful and lucky. All what city did was attack and what Madrid did was the other way round, to defend. And Madrid were successful but city were not successful at attacking. This same people said city will win but now look at their comments.
Beocemopsy
328
European competition semifinalists: Germany: 3 (2 UCL, 1 uel) Italy: 3 (2 uel, 1 uecl) France: 2 (1 UCL, 1 uel) Spain: 1 (UCL) Belgium, Greece, England: 1 (uecl) Isn’t it funny how the richest league in the world only has one team in a European semifinal. And that is in the lowest tier of European football. Best league in the world my ass….
vadbcdipuz
226
English premier League clubs are media tigers, how embarrassing their representative in European tournament get all bloated off by teams and league they consider inferior. Their king Manchester City got eliminated by so called mediocre Real Madrid, Arsenal got eliminated by not doing well bundles Liga Bayern Munich, Liverpool got knocked out by unheralded Atalanta.Isnt it time this over hyped English press shut their dirty mouth up. Being glamorous is different from quality.Spanish league owns Europe soccer. know this and know peace