UCL fallout: Ex-Man City pair slam Atletico Madrid after Savic carnage
Manchester City pundits slammed the behaviour of Atletico Madrid towards the end of last night’s Champions League stalemate.
The Spanish side drew 0-0 at the Wanda Metropolitano on Tuesday night, meaning they are knocked out of the competition 1-0 on aggregate after losing last week’s first leg at the Etihad.
Atletico employed a physical approach in the game, with Felipe lucky to escape a red card for a nasty mid-air challenge on Phil Foden in the first half, but things boiled over towards the end in a partisan, raucous atmosphere in the capital city.
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Felipe kicked out at Foden, receiving a red card before former City defender Stefan Savic tried to forcefully hoist Foden off the floor, headbutted Raheem Sterling, and pulled Jack Grealish’s hair, and then chased Grealish down the tunnel after the match and started a brawl in truly shocking scenes.
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Police were forced to intervene, with players from both sides having to be held back, and objects were reportedly thrown at members of opposing camps.
Former Manchester City defender Joleon Lescott said: “The last 10 minutes, you can’t condone that. It’s not something you want to see from an elite coach and a top level manager.”
Fellow pundit Owen Hargreaves added: “City had so much composure and class. It was a disgrace from Atletico at the end. Just play nice football! They had a right go but the antics were rubbish. Credit Man City, they’re so much more resilient. That was a really, really difficult game. Great performance from City.”
When asked if Atletico went too far, City boss Pep Guardiola said: “Nothing to say” and when pressed on his thoughts on if they targeted Foden, he said: “I don’t know. I cannot talk about what other people do, I don’t know.”
Former Chelsea striker Chris Sutton added on BBC Radio: “I don’t think I have seen anything like this in all my years, playing and watching football.
“To see a team lose at home, to get knocked out and the atmosphere is incredible. It turned ugly at the end, we talked about the dark arts, but Man City saw it through. They were pushed, they were tested all the way.”