Paul Walsh says Joe Hart will be disappointed with the mistake that cost City a point at the Bernbeau.
City will be gutted not to gain a point says Walsh
Sky Sports pundit Paul Walsh sympathised with Joe Hart but insisted he will be disappointed with his role in the goal that cost Manchester City a point at the Bernbeau against Real Madrid.
The England goalkeeper failed to keep out a dipping effort from Cristiano Ronaldo which snatched a 3-2 win for the Spanish champions. It was a bitter blow for City who had led 2-1 with five minutes remaining thanks to goals from Edin Dzeko and Aleksandr Kolarov.
Match report.
Hart made a series of impressive saves throughout the game but was beaten by Marcelo and Karin Benzema before failing to prevent Ronaldo from stealing the points at the death - something that will frustrate the England goalkeeper according to Walsh.
"A goalkeeper of his quality will be disappointed that he did not stop it," he told
Soccer Special. "It will always look worse in slow-motion but in real time it comes at him very quickly and dips.
"I think maybe he has seen it slightly late. I think he will be disappointed that he has not got something in the way of it. I don't think Vincent Kompany helped him the way he ducked out of the way.
"You could look at Hart and say someone of his quality will be disappointed he didn't get something on it."
Amazing
Walsh said that City's early attempts to shackle Real Madrid by packing the midfield and playing with just Carlos Tevez up front failed to achieve its aims as the hosts created a glut of chances. But the introduction of Dzeko in the second half brought City back into contention and ultimately Roberto Mancini will be disappointed not to have gained at least a point in the Bernbeau.
"It was an amazing game in terms of attempts, chances and good saves, mainly from Real Madrid for most of the game," he said. "As a manager you have to decide how you are going to go to the Bernbeau and how you are going to set up yourselves up
"I just think they set themselves up to frustrate Real Madrid but they did not frustrate them because they had plenty of chances and they could have been out of sight in the first 25 minutes but for Joe Hart making some great saves.
Gutted
"City set themselves up with Tevez quite isolated and they just concede ground with Ronaldo drifting past players too easily. I have never seen Kompany get mugged off by a player so many times as he did by Ronaldo. He made him look the most uncomfortable he has in a long time.
"Dzeko came on in the second half which gave them more of a focal point with Tevez playing around him.
"They will be absolutely gutted they didn't get anything out of the game. I think the right team has won but the way it unfolded I think Mancini will be very disappointed he didn't come away with something."
