Gutted. Absolutely gutted.
Can't fault any of the players, all played well.
We went to the Bernabeu in the Champions League and nearly nicked it. How far have we come in ten years, blues? How far away did this seem under Ball and Royle? I look at the Bernabeu and think of the Gene Kelly Stand between the Kippax and the North, it almost seems a lifetime ago.
But this is our journey; a journey that few are privileged to undertake. We were there when we were battling Macclesfield at Moss Rose and we were there when battling Real at the Bernabeu.
I'm gutted that we've lost after being in front twice but such a performance at such a ground brings the whole takeover home.
This one result taken on it's own is gutting; but if you take it in its full context of the progress that we have made, then it's a marker. We aren't quite there yet. We're almost there, but not quite; a cake without a cherry.
We look at the investment in the club, we look at the new Academy project and the investment into youth like Nastatric (who was wonderful), and like Rodwell this year.
We went to the Bernabeu and make no mistake, we shit up Real Madrid.
Gutted about the result but this game has brought home all of the emotions after the takeover. In that game, the world of football stopped laughing at City and started taking notice. We will be back, we are here to stay. Fair play to Real for having the better of us on the day, but this fixture will soon be the norm around the Etihad.
This is the best I've ever felt after a loss.