Joe Hart believes Guardiola’s tactics against Real Madrid STOPPED his side from recording bigger win

Joe Hart questioned Pep Guardiola’s tactical approach after Manchester City came from behind to beat Real Madrid 2-1 at the Bernabeu in their Champions League last-16 first-leg clash.

Isco had given the hosts the lead but Gabriel Jesus and a Kevin De Bruyne penalty, before Sergio Ramos’ late red card, ensured the Premier League champions will take a lead back to Etihad.

Guardiola made several surprising selection choices with Raheem Sterling, Sergio Aguero, David Silva and Fernandinho all on the substitutes’ bench while Bernardo Silva and De Bruyne switched roles up top in a move that puzzled Hart. 

Hart told BT Sport: ‘I think a conventional Manchester City line up beats that team by more goals, they were too strong when they stepped up in those stages. 

‘But with Aguero and Sterling they could do more damage.’

Usually a striker, Gabriel Jesus was deployed from the left in what appeared a system designed to contain the hosts primarily and attack as a secondary priority.

The introduction of Raheem Sterling as a substitute helped turn the tide and lead to the eventual winner for Guardiola’s side.  

Fellow pundit Rio Ferdinand added: ‘Huge result, going behind in a stadium like this with the experience they had and multiple Champions League winners, they came back to win the game and deservedly so. We could question Pep for the game plan but it came to fruition, all the players stepped up and performed, the only downer is the Laporte injury. But they fully deserved the win 

Peter Crouch said: ‘They are struggling. It’s not the Real Madrid we’ve seen in recent years, but you’re still playing Real Madrid at the Bernabeu. It was a fantastic result for City.’