Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany has claimed that his team could have beaten Real Madrid in the Champions League if it wasn't for Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Portuguese forward scored in the final minute of Tuesday's clash to snatch a 3-2 victory for Jose Mourinho's side in the Spanish capital but Kompany believes that it could have been a different game.
"There's not many players in the world who can do that but unfortunately for us he is one of them and it's clear he made the difference," the Belgian claimed. "We hoped that moment would not have come. It happens sometimes - he has shots like that. He was too quick. By the time you got in position it's already gone.
"Without Ronaldo it would have been a different game. He's always danger. When he's on the ball you have to back off. He's capable of going past someone and that doesn't happen so much.
"I guess it's why Barcelona and Real Madrid are regarded as the two best teams in the world because they have those two outstanding players in him and Lionel Messi. But we can be pleased with ourselves because it was very close."
Roberto Mancini's team will now turn their attentions back to the Premier League as they prepare to welcome Arsenal to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon.