Borussia Dortmund star Marco Reus admitted that a ‘sensational’ Manchester City side deserved to progress to the Champions League semi-finals after their 2-1 win in Germany on Wednesday, while speaking to the BVB website.
Pep Guardiola’s side certainly rode their luck in an intriguing last eight clash – with a couple of contentious refereeing decisions going their way – but it would be unfair to suggest that City are undeserving of a place in the final four of Europe’s elite club competition.
Despite an early scare, with 17-year-old sensation Jude Bellingham giving Dortmund an early lead at Signal Iduna Park, goals from Riyad Mahrez and Phil Foden put the gloss on a 4-2 aggregate victory on the banks of the Rhine.
While Reus is understandably disappointed to bow out with the final in sight, the 31-year-old Germany international was at least gracious in defeat.
“We performed very well until the penalty (scored by Mahrez). Man City obviously had the better chances. After they scored the penalty, we didn’t really have a clear idea,” the Dortmund captain admitted.
“We were simply too wild. City have sensational positional play, whereby they just make you run. Then it becomes difficult to get on the ball.
“City were better and more intelligent today. We have to acknowledge that unbegrudgingly.”
Manchester City will now face Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals, with the first leg due to take place in the French capital later this month.
Guardiola may be unwilling to admit it but, with the Premier League title in the bag and the Carabao Cup decider against Tottenham coming up, an historic quadruple is still very much on the cards.
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