Last night’s match was a stark reminder that Manchester City have entered the end of an era

There didn’t need to be one but last night’s 3-2 loss to Real Madrid was a fresh reminder that Manchester City have entered the end of an era. There was a host of conclusions to take from last night’s match at the Etihad but that one did stand out. You could tell as the game progressed that a host of Manchester City warriors just couldn’t perform as they once could. As the final whistle came at the Etihad that was an inescapable fact.

Manchester City gave all they could at the Etihad last night. Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva were prime examples of this. You couldn’t fault their effort and workrate but they just couldn’t keep up with their younger and more athletic opponents. Before De Bruyne was substituted last night, you could tell that his mind was willing, but his body was not. Age and injuries have caught up to the Manchester City legend and you do wonder what this means for his future.

Bernardo Silva battled away in midfield. But as the game wore on he struggled to keep up with Jude Bellingham and company. It was telling that Bellingham was on hand before anyone else to tap into an empty net to give Real Madrid a 3-2 lead in the 92nd minute of last night’s match. The introduction of Ilkay Gundogan and Mateo Kovacic didn’t aid Bernardo’s cause last night but their performances just reinforced the fact that the end of an era has well and truly arrived at Manchester City.

We may get glimpses of what Pep Guardiola’s side once were over the remainder of this season. These are proud players we are talking about. But they simply can’t do what they once could consistently and they can’t keep up with younger and more athletic opponents. Last night’s match perfectly encapsulated this. City’s rebuild is under way and it will take time before it’s complete. But the end of an era has arrived at the Etihad and although there is slim hope of a turn around at the Bernabeu next week you do sense that this senior group of Manchester City players just don’t have one more miracle left in them.