"Instead of taking him out.."—Pep Guardiola’s Substitution Decision Leaves Man City Fans Frustrated After Real Madrid Defeat

Manchester City fans were left scratching their heads after a key decision made by Pep Guardiola during their intense UEFA Champions League clash against Real Madrid. The match, filled with drama and late goals, ended in a shocking 3-2 defeat for City at the Etihad Stadium. However, it was Guardiola’s choice to keep Bernardo Silva on the pitch that sparked major controversy among supporters.

City dominated possession and created numerous scoring opportunities early in the game. However, they were unable to capitalize in spite of their initial pressure. In the 19th minute, Erling Haaland finally broke this deadlock, giving City a well-earned 1-0 lead.

In the second half, Real Madrid got their equalizer when Kylian Mbappe stunned the home crowd with an acrobatic finish in the 60th minute. Dani Ceballos fouled Phil Foden inside the box, giving City a penalty as both teams tried to score the game-winning goal. Haaland took the initiative and scored from the penalty spot to put City ahead 2-1 again.

But the celebrations were short-lived. Former City player Brahim Diaz made it 2-2 with just four minutes left in normal time. Then, in the dying moments of stoppage time, Jude Bellingham completed Madrid’s comeback with a stunning late goal, sealing a dramatic 3-2 victory for the Spanish giants.

After the final whistle, City fans took to social media to express their frustration, particularly over Guardiola’s decision to keep Bernardo Silva on the pitch. Many believed the Portuguese midfielder should have been substituted instead of Nathan Ake.

One frustrated fan wrote: “Instead of taking out Bernardo, he takes out Ake. Pep, WHY??”

Another said: “Pep made huge mistakes with his substitutions. Bernardo should have gone off.”

A third fan added: “Why does Pep love Bernardo so much? He offers absolutely nothing these days.”

Some supporters even questioned whether Guardiola’s loyalty to Bernardo is affecting City’s performances, with one fan commenting: “The earlier Pep realizes that Bernardo Silva is not that guy anymore, the better for him.”