'City almost tapping out' - Rio Ferdinand gives verdict on Manchester City's UEFA Champions League defeat to Real Madrid

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Kylian Mbappe took the headlines after scoring a clinical hat-trick in Real Madrid's 3-1 UEFA Champions League play-off win over Manchester City. But there was more discussion around City's decline from TNT Sports' experts in the aftermath after Pep Guardiola's side were well-beaten in the Spanish capital. Rio Ferdinand said the Premier League champions were "almost tapping out" at the Bernabeu.

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Rio Ferdinand claimed Manchester City were "almost tapping out" during their 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League play-offs.

City, needing to win after a 3-2 defeat at the Etihad last week, succumbed to another loss against the European champions in the Spanish capital.

Kylian Mbappe scored a clinical hat-trick, netting his third goal just after the hour mark and ending any hopes of a City comeback.

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Nico Gonzalez's late strike proved nothing more than a consolation, and TNT Sports' Ferdinand suggested the visitors were resigned to defeat.

"It was the manner they got beaten today. It was the first time I've seen a City team almost tapping out, waiting for the final whistle," Ferdinand said.

"And that's testament to what [Pep] Guardiola's produced here over his tenure - they've been magnificent and they've produced, but this season there's been many moments where you've looked at it and gone, 'That isn't the identity of a Guardiola team.' This Man City team are lacking any type of confidence.

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"It's crazy - I'm looking at it and going, 'How are they going to turn this around?' And I don't see any triggers. Kevin De Bruyne must be injured, [Erling] Haaland must be injured, and all the players look like they're lacking confidence. They're in no man's land right now.

"They had an aura where teams were beaten in the tunnel. Now teams are rolling their sleeves up and thinking they've got a chance. Now they have to show the resilience and ability to react to that."

Former Real Madrid midfielder Steve McManaman gave his view on City's decline during commentary for TNT Sports.

"We've been present at all these games between these two sides and there's normally a lot of jeopardy," he said. "But Manchester City have not laid a glove on Real Madrid tonight, which is remarkable.

"They've had a number of injuries. A lot of them [players] look quite leggy, as if they're not quick enough. That's a number of them all at the same time, which is never great."

Ex-City defender Joleon Lescott added: "It's devastating because they expected to win and wanted to go far in the competition.

"In the condition and form and inconsistencies they have had this season, we shouldn't be surprised. But the performance is most devastating because it was a thoroughly controlled win [for Real Madrid].

"The standard that they've set, we haven't seen. It's not great for the club, but it was never going to sustain forever; it was always going to drop off. "

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