Peter Schmeichel was left surprised after watching Real Madrid pull off another superb act of escapology and reach the Champions League final.
Manchester City looked home and hosed after Riyad Mahrez put them 5-3 ahead on aggregate with just 17 minutes left, but Europe’s comeback kings had other ideas.
Two goals from Rodrygo in the closing stages forced extra time, during which Karim Benzema stroked home the all important goal from the penalty spot after Ruben Dias had committed a needless foul.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side will now face Liverpool in Paris later this month after an epic run to the final over the course of which they have been on the ropes against Chelsea and PSG.
Real’s staying power has been a hallmark of their journey to the brink of a 14th European crown, but Schmeichel cannot understand how a team with so many flaws has escaped a knockout blow.
‘The first chance was the first goal in the 90th minute, the second goal was the second chance and the third goal was the third time they hit the target,’ Schmeichel told CBS Sports.
‘Real Madrid have got no right to be in that final. They were the poorest team by a mile over the two games. Man City were in full control but it’s that one moment we talked about that. We talked about how that stadium in there could be the 12th man.
‘When they started that second half, that chance after just eight seconds it was like they set the whole place on fire and it was just unbelievable.
‘I feel a little bit sorry for Manchester City, I have to say that because I thought apart from that goal in the 90th minute they played really well, they had everything under control.
‘Rodri in midfield was awesome tonight and I’m not going to criticise anything, but if you lose a player like Kevin De Bruyne and the game turns out in the way it does then you miss him in that last 30 minutes and was sorely missed.
‘But I mean my God! Real Madrid where does that come from I have absolute no idea. They didn’t play well.
‘Predicting this Champions League has been very, very difficult. I had Bayern Munich winning it and they got knocked out in the quarter finals.
‘I did think Real Madrid would go into the final because of the situation in England but they were so poor. Only the game at Chelsea was good. I don’t understand anything about football any more.’
