City created a host of chances at the Parc Des Princes, where Idrissa Gueye’s early goal and a superb strike from Lionel Messi consigned us to our first Champions League group stage defeat in three years.
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It might have been different had Bernardo Silva not sent a glorious chance against the crossbar with the score at 1-0 and, whilst we found goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma in fine form, Guardiola admitted we needed to do better in the final third.
“I think we made a really good game, quite similar to Stamford Bridge,” he explained at his post-match press conference.
“Maybe we were a little less aggressive in our first actions for the quality of the players that we have, but in general it was a fantastic game. We did everything, I didn’t see the stats but I think we created enough chances to score.
“Donnarumma was fantastic. The quality of the players they have, we minimised for our game Neymar and Messi being in contact with the ball and did not let Mbappe run in behind but at the end 2-0, last ten minutes we were more desperate with less control.
“The quality they have everyone knows it, but I think we did a really good game with personality, but we should’ve scored goals and we didn’t do it and that’s why we lost the game.”
With City pushing for an equaliser, Messi’s moment of brilliance was a hammer blow for the visitors.
Having weaved inside off the right flank, he played a quick one-two with Kylian Mbappe before curling into the top corner from the edge of the area.
It was a goal which highlighted how dangerous the blockbuster front three of Messi, Mbappe and Neymar can be, but Guardiola was satisfied with how his team managed that threat, acknowledging it is impossible to nullify the Argentine for an entire game.
“We dealt with PSG first of all,” he added.
“We know it’s impossible to control Leo all 90 minutes. Of course, he came back from some injuries, which is why he needed a bit of rhythm but we know him quite well and when he can run and be close to the ball he’s unstoppable.
“The way we have done is minimise this as much as possible and create the chances that we could create. We arrived here and played our game.
“They defended deep with seven players, and it’s always the risk if you lose the ball and they can make one pass with Verratti who is an exceptional player and they make contact with Neymar or Messi and run it’s always difficult.”
