GARETH TAYLOR says it was a 'big disappointment' to see Real Madrid knock Manchester City out of the Champions League.
Caroline Weir returned to haunt her former club as the Spanish side thwarted their rivals for a second successive season at the qualifying stage.
The Citizens came close to levelling late with Deyna Castellanos clipping the post before Lauren Hemp fired narrowly wide in stoppage time.
But Weir's first-half strike was enough to see the LaLiga outfit seal a hard-fought win on Sunday night.
The clash – watched by former City star Lucy Bronze – saw a Spanish club knock City out of the competition for the fifth season in a row.
And Taylor’s stars will now enter the Continental Cup group stages following their Champions League exit.
Of Weir’s strike, the City chief said: “There’s a fair chance (of a goal) when you give a player like Caroline that kind of opportunity at that moment.
“And it’s a shame for us because it followed our build-up play and they attacked in the transition, got the ball to Caroline and she finished it off really well.”
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Of the result, Taylor who is targeting a league title win added: “There was always one team that was going suffer.
"It's a shame that these two teams have met at this part of the competition.
“(But) It doesn’t mean anything for the rest of our season.
“It’s a big disappointment, we won’t hide from that, but we knew the implications that it would potentially be City v Madrid.
“There would always be a loss for someone, but there is no change for us.
"The objectives switch slightly, but it’s the same in terms of what we want to achieve.
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“It’s the second season in a row that it’s happened, so we need to win the league and go straight into the group stage.
"That’s what we’re looking to do for sure.”
Madrid began the game strongly at the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium.
Weir latched on to Esther Gonzalez’s curled cross before turning her marker and firing the hosts ahead in the 15th minute.
Moments later the visitors looked to hit back with Chloe Kelly’s delivery into the box headed wide by Laia Alexandri.
This was shortly before Weir sent a spectacular chipped effort wide.
The best first-half chances fell to Madrid with Athenea Del Castillo causing problems down the flank.
The winger whipped a ball into the box near the half-hour mark which Esther Gonzalez headed over the crossbar.
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And Naomie Feller saw her shot brilliantly blocked by skipper Alex Greenwood close to halftime.
The second spell saw the visitors up the tempo in search of an equaliser.
And Taylor altered his line-up with Laura Coombs and Demi Stokes coming on for Vicky Losada and Leila Ouahabi.
Aleixandri and Kelly were both subbed off later with the Spain ace feeling the effects of swelling above her eye and Kelly picking up a knock.
City came close to a leveller with Khadija Shaw spinning her marker before forcing a parried save from keeper Misa Rodriguez with her 50th-minute shot.
And Weir forced an excellent save from Ellie Roebuck moments later following a volleyed effort.
Deyna Castellanos came close to firing City level in the 79th minute.
And Hemp saw her late strike roll inches wide of the post before Madrid claimed their place in the next round of the Champions League.
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