Arsene Wenger Points Finger At Manchester City Substitute For Real Madrid Loss

Arsene Wenger laid the blame for Manchester City's Champions League exit at the feet of one of Pep Guardiola's substitutions, saying Jack Grealish had much to answer for,

City looked certain to book their place in a second Champions League final in-a-row when Riyad Mahrez put them ahead against Real Madrid on Wednesday night.

Just 17 minutes remained of normal time and the visitors had a two goal lead on aggregate and a final with Liverpool in Paris on May 28th looked all but booked.

However, a goal in the 90th minute and another in the first minute of injury time, both by Rodrygo, saw extra time and Karim Benzema did what he's been doing all year in the tournament, and scored the winner with a penalty in the additional 30 minutes.

At 1-0 though, no one really could have seen the comeback coming, with Real having not had a shot on target and City, like in the first leg, having plenty of chances.

Two of those fell the way of substitute Grealish, who came on just five minutes after Mahrez's goal, however it wasn't his misses in the game, but his defending left Wenger criticising the £100 million man.

"When you look at 1-1, when Grealish is against Carvajal, he is passed easily, too easily. He must absolutely fight to stop that cross,” Wenger told beIN SPORT, talking about Rodrygo's second goal.

"You do not want the ball in the box, anything can happen when everybody goes forward.

"That is where City did not secure the game, defending on the sides. Because they conceded, even when you look when Benzema gave the ball back, they didn't really attack the ball the defenders, they made big mistakes.

"When you're a manager and you lose a game, you go home and always think, 'what have I done wrong?'"

Man City were THIS CLOSE to going through 🤏#UCL pic.twitter.com/7zWYU8pAyP

— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) May 4, 2022

Real were somewhat lucky to still be in the game when they arrived back at the Bernabeu for the second leg, having held on to City's dominance in Manchester eight days before.

Going behind on the night meant they once again had to come from behind, having been losing in the second legs against PSG and Chelsea in the previous rounds.

As well as being critical of Grealish, Wenger also admitted Los Blancos' ability to come from behind was a huge factor, adding, "The second thing I would say is that what is surprising for me is that this team from Madrid, when they need an answer to a problem, they always find a solution.

"Let's not forget they scored six goals against City, they scored six against Chelsea. It is not always the case that City concede six goals in two games. They have something special."

OH WOW, OH WOW, OH WOW, OH WOW!!!!!

Rodrygo bags his second goal in a matter of minutes!

How has this happened!? 😱#UCL pic.twitter.com/WuimFkZdvI

— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) May 4, 2022

The problems for Grealish didn't end after the match either, with the former Aston Villa midfielder having to delete a tweet from 2014 saying 'Hala Madrid.'

He may well be saying the same come the end of the month, when Carlo Ancelotti's side face Liverpool in the final at the Stade de France.

Jurgen Klopp's team could be gunning for an incredible quadruple if they pip City to the Premier League title, and defeat Chelsea in the FA Cup final.

City will be hoping to finally end their European hoodoo next year.