John Stones admitted that he felt feeling “anger and frustration” after Manchester City granted two late goals to lose 3-2 against Real Madrid on Tuesday.
The result leaves the city with a mountain to climb to progress from its play-off of the Champions League before the second section in Madrid next week.
The Pep Guardiola team led 2-1 four minutes of the time before the goals of the former young man of the city Brahim Díaz and the midfielder of England Jude Bellingham.
“We were in the game until so late and then there are two situations that happen and admit,” Stones told Amazon Prime.
“He is frustrating as a defender to go out with that result. It is a feeling of anger and frustration.
“We need to see the games better. The manager said that we must take responsibility for what we do in the field, I think we do that. We need to take a step forward when these bad times happen.”
It is not the first time that this season has paid the price for a late collapse. Only in the Champions League, they have thrown clues against CP Sporting, Feyenoord, Paris Saint-Germain and now against Madrid.
“After 2-1, what happened many times this season happened,” Guardiola told a press conference.
“Against Feyenoord, Sporting, Brentford, [Manchester] United. In the end we give ourselves. At that level it is very difficult. It is not the first time, it has happened many times, and that is why it is difficult.
“We talk about that, but that's difficult. It has happened many times.”
City must win at the Bernabéu next week to have any opportunity to reach the 16.
Madrid only needs a raffle at home for progress and Stones admitted that it was “difficult” “to stay positive” after approaching so much to go to Madrid ahead in the draw.
“We had a great opportunity to go to Bernabéu with an advantage of 2-1,” said Stones. “It is not done. We have to stay positive, which is difficult now.”
As the manager says, we must look at ourselves and assume responsibility. “It is avoidable of us like the eleven in the field. We have to do better, it is as simple as that. We have to maintain a positive mentality and try to get it well.”
