Real Madrid's Zinedine Zidane has played down suggestions that Manchester City failed to perform in the Champions League semi-final second leg.
City were knocked out of the competition 1-0 on aggregate following their return bout defeat to Real who saluted courtesy of a Gareth Bale striker which deflected off Fernando in the 20th minute.
Pundits suggest that City did not deserve to go through to the final due to the fact that they created just one shot on target at the Santiago Bernabeu but Zidane felt it was a strong showing from Manuel Pellegrini's men.
"I didn't see a weak City," said Zidane.
"I saw City participating, a team who made it difficult for us. They didn't manage to get too many opportunities, but they played, they defended well and it was difficult for us.
"We deserved maybe a second goal in the second half, but in the end it's a semi-final and we suffered all the way until the end.
"At the end when you look we won 1-0. That shows that we suffered against a very good opponent. You may have your own opinion that City did nothing. I think they did a lot."
Real will now take on local rivals Atletico Madrid in the final at the San Siro in Milan on May 28, in a repeat of the 2014 decider, as they chase an unprecedented 11th European title.