Getty Images Sport | Moataz Elgammal | Mar 18, 2026 05:13+06:00 Pep Guardiola overtakes Sir Alex Ferguson as Man City crash out of Champions League with Real Madrid loss - but can he catch Carlo Ancelotti? Pep Guardiola has officially surpassed Sir Alex Ferguson to claim second place for the most games managed in Champions League history. However, this historic milestone was heavily overshadowed by a bitter reality, as his Manchester City side crashed out of the competition following a 5-1 aggregate defeat to Spanish giants Real Madrid in the round of 16. Real Madrid end City's European dream City’s Champions League journey ended in absolute disaster. After a crushing 3-0 first-leg defeat where Federico Valverde scored a spectacular hat-trick, the second leg quickly turned into a nightmare. Bernardo Silva was sent off for blocking a Vinicius Junior shot with his arm, conceding a 22nd-minute penalty that the Brazilian converted. Erling Haaland pulled one back with a 41st-minute strike, but Vinicius sealed a 2-1 win with a late stoppage-time goal. Madrid will now face either Bayern Munich or Atalanta in the quarter-finals. Surpassing Sir Alex Ferguson's record Despite the devastating exit, the second leg marked a monumental personal achievement for the Catalan manager. It was his 191st match in the dugout in Europe's premier competition, officially taking him past legendary Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson (190 games). His remarkable longevity reflects sustained excellence across successful spells with Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City. Chasing Ancelotti in the history books While Guardiola has distanced himself from peers like Arsene Wenger (178 games) and Jose Mourinho (154), a significant gap remains to the top. The outright record-holder is Carlo Ancelotti with an incredible 218 matches. Guardiola’s legacy includes three tournament titles, placing him joint-second all-time alongside Bob Paisley and Zinedine Zidane, but still trailing Ancelotti's five historic victories. What is next for Manchester City? The European elimination continues a miserable March curse. Aside from an FA Cup victory over Newcastle, City have stumbled domestically, drawing with Nottingham Forest and West Ham. This poor run has allowed Arsenal to build a nine-point lead atop the Premier League. Guardiola's men must quickly refocus, starting with a crucial Carabao Cup final against Arsenal this Sunday, followed by an FA Cup quarter-final against Liverpool in April. ENJOYED THIS STORY? Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting | AFP
Pep Guardiola Surpasses Sir Alex Ferguson as Manchester City Exit Champions League Against Real Madrid – Can He Catch Carlo Ancelotti?
