Erling Haaland and Ruben Dias release defiant social media statement after Manchester City’s Champions League exit | OneFootball

Two senior members of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City squad in Ruben Dias and Erling Haaland have released defiant messages on their social media channels.

The statements this week come after City exited the UEFA Champions League before the last-16 stage for the first time since the 2012/13 season under Roberto Mancini, and in hugely lacklustre fashion via a 6-3 aggregate defeat to Real Madrid.

Erling Haaland may have thought he had given City a much-needed advantage heading towards the second-leg in the Spanish capital only for Brahim Diaz and Jude Bellingham to strike late at the Etihad Stadium and record a 2-3 away win in the first-leg.

The away trip for City in Madrid was all about Kylian Mbappe, who followed up his first-leg equalising goal with a staggering hat-trick to firmly deny Pep Guardiola’s side any hope of a revival at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The performance was that bad that two of the Catalan’s senior leadership group within the first-team squad have since deemed it worthy of a message to supporters in another big week for the club as they now gear up for Premier League action this weekend.

In his first comments after Manchester City’s hugely disappointing exit from European competition this season, striker Erling Haaland told supporters on social media, “We remain as one.”

The Norwegian striker, who has been by far and away Manchester City’s best goal contributor so far this season, continued, “Sometimes you have to experience this in life and learn from it. You can’t always win. We’ll rise again together.”

Manchester City’s vice-captain, Ruben Dias – who endured a troublesome opening period at the Bernabeu, then penned his own words to supporters on social media as he stated this week, “Head high, learn, progress and always fight for the badge.”

Both players are likely to be in contention for Manchester City’s return to action this weekend when they take on Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium, requiring a victory to remain firmly in the chase for a top-four spot.

Liverpool on the other hand will be desperate to avoid such an outcome as they remain the favourites to win the Premier League title for the first time since 2020 after Manchester City’s four triumphs in the English top-flight in succession.