February 12th 2025.
Sergio Aguero, a well-known City legend, was feeling quite strongly about the game at the Etihad against Real Madrid. His former club had been struggling this season while Real Madrid was sitting comfortably at the top of La Liga. Despite this, Aguero confidently claimed that Real Madrid would not be able to beat Manchester City. In a bold statement, he even added that he would be willing to cut off his own testicles if they were to lose.
The first leg of the Champions League knockout play-off between the two heavyweights was full of drama. City took the lead twice with goals from Erling Haaland, but Real Madrid fought back with a goal from Kylian Mbappe. With just 10 minutes left to play, City was ahead 2-1 and looked to be in a strong position. However, Real Madrid's Brahim Diaz equalized and Jude Bellingham scored an injury time winner, giving them a 3-2 advantage going into the second leg in Spain. While the tie is not over yet, Carlo Ancelotti's side has a clear advantage after their trip to Manchester.
Aguero's confident words before the game were not the only bold move he made. He also posted a screenshot of his $10,000 bet on a very specific outcome in the game. He seemed convinced that there would be two goals in the first half, but unfortunately for him, that did not happen. Needless to say, he lost a hefty sum of money on that hunch.
The defeat was just another unexpected event in City's turbulent season. Their standards seemed to have dropped drastically from previous years. However, manager Pep Guardiola was not looking to point fingers and blame anyone for the loss. He acknowledged that the team has lost stability and that it was a collective effort.
"It belongs to all of us, not just the players," Guardiola stated. "I could easily blame a specific player, but that would be ridiculous and counterproductive. We are all responsible, including myself. The players are giving their all, but the truth is that we are not stable enough in crucial moments."
Guardiola also spoke about the team's struggles this season and how they have not been able to maintain their usual level of performance. "We have been an extraordinary team, a machine that plays every three days. But this year, I acknowledge that we have not been good enough to handle these situations. I cannot be angry with my team, as we know the quality of our opponents. It's just that sometimes, when you are playing at this level and have a good result within your reach, it's harder to accept when it slips away."
Despite the disappointment of the loss, Guardiola is already looking ahead to their next game. He knows that they need to have fresh legs and minds to bounce back from this defeat. "Tomorrow is a new day, and we have to continue and move on. I have faith in my team, but we need to work on being more composed and making better decisions in crucial moments."
In the end, while City may have lost the game, they still have a chance to turn things around in the second leg. As for Aguero, it's safe to say that he won't be making any more bold bets anytime soon.
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