Pep Guardiola has admitted his Manchester City side did not do enough to go through to the Champions League semi-finals after their 3-1 defeat to Lyon.
The City boss gave a frank assessment of his side after a match in which VAR came to the fore in a drama-filled conclusion and said errors eventually cost them in Lisbon.
“One day we will break this gap,” he told BT Sport. “The second half was OK, I had a feeling we were better but you have to be perfect in these competitions.
“I don't want to talk about the circumstances [of Dembele's first goal], it looks like I'm complaining or finding excuses. We are out. We did a lot of good things and in the end it was not enough.
In his post-match press conference, Guardiola said his players were naturally upset after the result but they would be given time to rest before turning their attentions to next season.
He added: “The players are, of course, sad. Now we are going to [go through these emotions] in the hotel. It's part of the game.
Pep Guardiola says it is time for his Manchester City players to take a break to get ready for next season
“In this competition, we know we can do many things but we have to be serious in the boxes and not concede these goals. The statistics show that we were good, we did more than they other ones in terms of everything but it was not enough.
“We struggled [in] the first 15-20 minutes to find the spaces to attack a little bit better with more consistency. Then after the last 15-20 minutes [of the first half], they [Lyon] started to play really good and a team like we knew – so aggressive, defensive and strong, like all the French teams.
Pep Guardiola says his Manchester City players are down following their 3-1 defeat to Lyon in their Champions League quarter-final
“And the second half, we were good but was not good enough. The distance sometimes [is] the chances we miss and after we concede a goal. It is what it is. Maybe one day we will break past the quarter-finals, we are not able to do it. I am not able to with these incredible guys. We will try in the future.
“The show must go on and now it's time for the players to take a break, we are going to get in as many days as possible. Next season will be so strong and demanding, but not the time to think about this… So [we will] try to sleep a little bit and pass 24 hours, 48 hours and then we start to think about next season.”
Lyon, through to a potentially daunting semi-final against Bayern Munich, were rank outsiders having finished seventh in the curtailed Ligue 1 season this year.
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For Lyon, they are on a sensational Champions League run, knocking out Juventus and Manchester City in the knockout round so far, but face a daunting semi-final against Bayern Munich on Wednesday.
This article was most recently revised and updated 4 years ago