TOO careful, too technical and too scared to lose with the finish line in sight.

That’s why Pep Guardiola (manager) and his Manchester City team’s Champions League curse continues.

Lyon’s enthusiastic squad inflicted a shock 3-1 defeat on English football’s club in Lisbon.

Two quick goals by Lyon’s supersub Moussa Dembele broke the Citizens’ hearts in a quarter-final of Europe’s most prestigious club competition.

It is also the third time in so many years that the Guardiola have been stuck in the quarter-finals – after teams such as Monaco, Liverpool and Tottenham City also foiled them in the past.

Kevin de Bruyne’s equalizer in the second half brought temporary hope after Maxwel Cornet got Lyon’s nose in front.

The battle was not without drama and controversial decisions either, but it was already written in the stars that Lyon would triumph.

That’s why Dembele’s foul on Emeric Laporte should not be seen as an excuse either.

Also forget about Raheem Sterling’s incredible mistake right in front of the posts in the dying moments to level matters.

The fact of the matter is that Gaurdiola got his tactics wrong. The Spaniard’s desire for success blinded his ingenuity and ability as a tactician.

Guardiola, who won the title nine years ago with Barcelona, ​​threw away a golden opportunity to win the title this season.

It’s because his decisions to change his formation also blew up in his face.

No matter how Guardiola analyzes the fight, his team was also not at their best and hungry enough to succeed.

Guardiola, however, were manly enough to admit that they were not good enough on the day.

“One day we will close the gap,” Gaurdiola explained to BT Sport. “The second half was okay, I thought we were better, but in the competition you have to be perfect.

“I do not want to talk about the (controversial) cases. It will sound like I’m complaining or apologizing. We’re out and that’s it. We did a lot of things well, but it was not enough.

“We made mistakes in both goal areas in key moments and that’s why we are out of the competition. We scored a fantastic goal but also missed a golden opportunity. You have to be perfect and can not make such mistakes, “Guardiola added.