The City coach didn't take any credit away from Mauricio Pochettino's side - in fact, he congratulated them. However, by his reckoning the decisive goal scored by Spanish striker Fernando Llorente should not have stood judging by the images that he had seen.
“I support VAR but maybe from one angle Fernando Llorente’s goal is handball, maybe from the referee’s angle it is not.” Guardiola said.
The City boss expressed his disappointment with the exit, adding: “It is cruel but it is what it is and we have to accept it.”
Guardiola admitted it was a spectacle for the neutrals, before saying that he is "so proud, especially of the fans for the reaction and the incredible reaction. I never saw the stadium like today,”
“We are sad for all of them but they know we have given everything but football is unpredictable and unfortunately we are not in the next stage".
City will now focus their efforts on the Premier League and the FA Cup as they look to complete a domestic treble.