Manchester City defender John Stones revealed that Citizens boss Pep Guardiola told his players to look at themselves and take accountability after they twice threw away a lead against Real Madrid in the Champions League play-offs.

Erling Haaland put the hosts ahead midway through the first half and then struck for a second time 10 minutes from the end after Kylian Mbappe had drawn the visitors level.

But the Citizens capitulated late on as Brahim Diaz found the back of the net with four minutes remaining before England international Jude Bellingham struck a winner two minutes into stoppage time.

“We were in the game until so late and then it’s two situations that happen and we concede. It’s frustrating as a defender to come away with that result,” Stones told Amazon Prime. “It’s a feeling of anger and frustration. We need to see games out better.

“The manager said we need to take accountability for what we do on the pitch – I think we do that. We need to step up when these bad moments happen.

“Today we had a great opportunity to go to the Bernabeu with a 2-1 lead. It’s not done. We have to stay positive, which is difficult now. As the manager says we need to look at ourselves and take accountability.”

City enjoyed a dominant spell in the second part of the first half as they attempted to secure a first-leg lead against the 15-time European champions. But the hosts were unable to repel the visitors as the match wore on as Real attacked at will.

And Stones added: “We were right on top at the start of the game and we know Real have quality to come out in the second half.

“It is avoidable from us as the 11 on the pitch. We have to do better – it’s as simple as that. We have to keep a positive mentality and try to put it right.”

City face the daunting task of defeating Real at the Bernabeu Stadium next Wednesday if they are to progress to the last-16 of the Champions League.

And after the first-leg, Guardiola explained: “There are mistakes in similar areas. It is difficult to manage but yeah, it happens many times.

“Players take decisions in the moment, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. We arrived in the last minute with the result, but we could not keep it.

“It belongs to all of us, not just the players. I have not a problem to accept that it doesn’t work like it worked in the past. It is all of us.”