Manchester City’s Champions League exit at the hand of Real Madrid felt like the “end of an era” for Pep Guardiola at the club, says former midfielder Didi Hamann.
City already had a mountain to climb to overturn a three-goal deficit from the first leg of the last-16 tie, but the task was made even more difficult when Bernardo Silva was sent off and Real given a penalty.
They ultimately succumbed to a 5-1 aggregate defeat and it has brought more questions about the future of boss Guardiola, despite him still have a year left on his contract.
“It was a poor night. The early sending-off didn’t help because they started the game well and if you get an early goal you never know what can happen. I think that sending-off killed the game. Real Madrid, over the two legs, have got to say they are very deserved winners,” Hamann told BBC Radio 5 Live breakfast.
“They are having a tough time. Even though in the league they have been very close to Arsenal, they have lost a bit of ground again now, and with managers it is a very testing job and sometimes you get annoyed at hearing the same voice.
“Pep has been there a very long time and I just feel that last night felt like the end of an era because I think he is probably going to leave the club in the summer. They lost some of their huge players from the last decade and they brought some new players in, as good as the other ones are they still need to show that.
“It’s a bit unsteady at the moment, but I think the biggest decision will be, if Pep goes in the summer what will happen with the next manager?”
Listen to the full discussion from 2:20:00 on BBC Sounds here