Joe Cole mentions that the players have started to feel fear as Real Madrid sensed an opportunity for victory against Manchester City.

**MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 11:** Erling Haaland of Manchester City was left visibly dejected after Brahim Diaz of Real Madrid found the net for his team’s second goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 knockout play-off first leg at the Manchester City Stadium. The match, held on February 11, 2025, saw City falter against a formidable Madrid side, leaving fans and pundits alike questioning the current state of Pep Guardiola’s men.

Former England international Joe Cole has weighed in on the situation, suggesting that Manchester City’s players have lost the invincibility that once defined them. He pointed out that mistakes have begun to creep into their performances, leading him to believe that the team is now a mere shadow of its former self.

“We’ve talked about Man City and waxed lyrical about how good they’ve been over the past decade,” Cole remarked during his analysis on TNT Sports. “At times, I’ve said, ‘I don’t see a fault anywhere in the club, and they always find a way to win.’ But it seems now that they always find a way to not get it done.”

Cole highlighted specific errors, such as Ederson’s questionable decision-making and Mateo Kovacic’s uncharacteristic flick that contributed to Real Madrid’s third goal. “There are so many things that Manchester City are doing now that they’re getting punished for,” he added. “That’s what happens when you’re not at your best. The fear has crept into the players.”

He continued, “I don’t know where the end is now, because they pushed Real Madrid and matched them in so many aspects of the game. But Real Madrid smelt blood; they just know when to do it. They’ve got this rhythm. Manchester City look like a group of players, a team and a club trying to remember what they were.”

Adding to the analysis, former City defender Joleon Lescott expressed his belief that the players struggled under the pressure of maintaining a lead. He noted that Real Madrid’s storied history in the Champions League played a significant role in their comeback.

“I think it’s worse when they’re ahead,” Lescott explained. “When they’re behind, they play with the shackles off and are more fearless regarding the result. Tonight, that could’ve happened if Man City were at their best. It’s Madrid we’re talking about; this competition and Madrid are unprecedented.”

Lescott acknowledged the unique pressure that comes with wearing the Real Madrid shirt in this competition. “From Man City’s perspective, their confidence is affected,” he said. “When you’re on top and confident, you get bits of luck that may not be recognised. But when the confidence is rock bottom, you see mistakes like Kovacic’s error, Rico Lewis being half a yard out for Real’s third goal, and Ederson making unsure decisions.”

He concluded, “Everything goes against you when your confidence is on the floor. Looking at tonight’s result, I think Man City should’ve got something out of it because they were ahead. But this is also Real Madrid, and you have to take that into consideration.”

As the dust settles on this encounter, the question remains: can Manchester City rediscover their winning formula, or have they truly lost their edge?