While we ultimately came up short on the night, City carved out several clear-cut chances, registering 18 shots to the hosts’ six as well as striking the woodwork twice at the Parc des Princes.
But it was to no avail, with Lionel Messi adding to Idrissa Gueye’s early strike with an excellent solo effort in the second half to earn PSG all three points on Matchday Two.
Guardiola didn’t shy away from praising the individual brilliance of the Argentine, who formed part of PSG’s famed attacking trident alongside Kylian Mbappe and Neymar, but was pleased with how City generally nullified the danger that they each posed.
“They’re exceptional players,” the City boss reflected.
“They have three exceptions players in the same team like before with Messi, (Luis) Suarez and Neymar at Barcelona or in my period (as Barca manager) with Samuel Eto’o, Thierry Henry and Messi.
“A few players and teams can do it, and we knew it already, we spoke about that, we can’t control them for 90 minutes these types of players, these huge individual talents.
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“The only way I know is two options, defend 90 minutes deep and pray and the second one is to take the ball, do your game and try to minimise (their threat).
“When you have the ball, they can’t have (it) and try to create chances. And we created them.”
Hear Pep Guardiola‘s post-match press conference in full via the video above...
