Gareth Bale has publicly criticised Manchester City for their lack of offensive endeavour in their Champions League defeat to Real Madrid.
The Citizens secured a 0-0 draw against Los Merengues at the Etihad Stadium last week, setting up a platform upon which they could potentially secure an unlikely spot in the UCL final with a positive result at the Bernabeu on Wednesday.
However, even though an away goal in the Spanish capital would have put immense pressure Zinedine Zidane’s side, Manuel Pellegrini’s outfit were lacklustre and shorn of ideas in offensive areas.
“Maybe they lacked a bit of ambition going forward, but that is down to us,” Bale told reporters on Thursday [as reported by Goal]. “We kept it tight and limited their chances and ultimately got the goal.”
Proceeding, Bale insisted that Los Blancos could have been put under trouble had the Citizens taken their opportunities following his 20th-minute opener, which looped over Joe Hart after deflecting off Fernando.
“At 1-0, City always had a chance. If they had thrown everything at us and we had gone down the other end and then nicked another goal, then it’s game set and match,” he continued.
“I guess you could say they could have thrown a little bit more at us, but they didn’t. I felt like we controlled both games and I don’t think they had a shot on target,” the Welsh forward concluded.
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Bale’s correct that the Sky Blues didn’t have a single shot on target—a dismal showing for a side chasing their first-ever spot in a Champions League final—their return of five shots in the second leg (compared to Real’s 15) is further evidence of their underwhelming showing.
Sergio Aguero largely disappointed as the Citizens’ leading man, and while Fernandinho hit the woodwork, City’s luck perhaps ran out when talismanic captain Vincent Kompany was replaced by Eliaquim Mangala due to injury in the tenth minute of the match.
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