Pep Guardiola has heaped praise on Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar ahead of Manchester City's Champions League semi-final tie against the Ligue 1 side.
The first leg will take place at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday night, and the Catalan coach recognised that Barcelona could have won more Champions League trophies if they had been able to keep hold of Neymar, who joined the Blaugrana the year after Guardiola left but then departed for PSG in 2017.
"I remember watching clips of Neymar and thinking this is the king of Santos [Neymar's first club in Brazil]," Guardiola said during Tuesday's pre-match press conference.
"The players had their mouths open. If Neymar had stayed at Barcelona, they would have won two or three Champions League [trophies] more. Him, [Lionel] Messi and [Luis] Suarez were the best up front. He makes football a pleasure."
The tie between PSG and Manchester City will see two of the world's most promising footballers come head to head in Kylian Mbappe and Phil Foden respectively, with Guardiola acknowledging the talent of both players.
"Both are young incredible talents with incredible skills, but it is difficult to compare players in different positions," Guardiola noted.
"I am sure that PSG are happy to have Mbappe, and you cannot imagine how happy we are to have Phil. I don't give presents to players; they don't play [simply] because they are a Manchester City player. He plays because he is at a good level."
The Manchester City boss did recognise that coming through the PSG tie alive will be a tough test, in spite of how impressive the Citizens have been in the Premier League in 2021.
"Always I believe [in] the quality of these players, they have too much," Guardiola stated.
"I tried to sleep well last night and that was when I was not thinking of them. Incredible top players, their quality. We are ready to try to stop them, defend as a team, play good football and try to score goals."
mgbare
1
this I think is guardiola's way of telling Neymar to go back..
NeilOberholzerjwjje
1
GUARDIOLA please if you are the best coach doesn't mean you know the future NEYMAR is nothing but only a booster
read article you hoe
NeilOberholzerjwjje
0
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and mahrez is rw foden plays left
NeilOberholzerjwjje
0
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nah i think this sterling wasting to much or maybe rodri in and fernandinho out
lidoprsty
1
Definitely
aviksarkerovik
1
neymar was there when they were knocked out by Roma and juv e
🤞🤞🤞🤞
Monaekmor
0
City will concede goals !! Pep knows that but it not easy to score goals on PGG ... they have navas and psg's main priority is UCL this season . They play differently in Big games . The way they press , the way they recover ball is brilliant. They block the vision of a player so the player cant pass most of the times . Poch knows how to maintain the balance in big games . He Beat Ajax , he knows when to defend when to attack and when to slow down just to hold the ball . Dont treat Poch too lightly .
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we have marquinhos too
sutbcdeiln
1
if that was the case how many has he won with the current team??
Your brain is too small
Diwabceu
0
after neymar's departure barelona was knocked out by roma,liverpool,psgand bayern with a bag goals. if there was neymar they did not lose with conceding more goals.i am not saying that barcelona would win but barcelona have a chance to win 1 or 2 ucl if there was neymar.
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neymar left 2018 so he was definitely there when they were knocked out by Roma
Diwabceu
0
after neymar's departure barelona was knocked out by roma,liverpool,psgand bayern with a bag goals. if there was neymar they did not lose with conceding more goals.i am not saying that barcelona would win but barcelona have a chance to win 1 or 2 ucl if there was neymar.
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neymar was there when they were knocked out by Roma and juv e
hisadkou
0
after 2016 debacle against juv,. 2-3 ucl is only middle finger to pep, they won't have win that,
JoelTimothydoh-995
0
true words
depelnsty
1
Zawiltuy
1
definitely
HenryKudoz
0
Frank
yuwbeilntu
1
Of course if neymar stay at barca. barcelona should have win five to six champion league trophy 🏆
Lusbciknsy
2
if that was the case how many has he won with the current team??
Your brain is the size of a rice grain
SegdaAbubakar_10
3
GUARDIOLA please if you are the best coach doesn't mean you know the future NEYMAR is nothing but only a booster
Jehblmnpuz
4
Yeah, that's why Neymar won nothing with PSG! [Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
Hans10
1
All talk, distraction
Jocabcikru
4
infact our club we still need neymar
vaeacntuz
1
if that was the case how many has he won with the current team??
u read and understand with your leg, didn't u understand what he said,you can't compare the attacking lines at pari with that of barca
babafemi
1
yes he said it right. " would have "
Justice2431
1
hmmmm for ur dream abi
Benaclmnrz
0
don't lie what about Flick
what did I lie? I said the first one and also Flick didn't win an award for the BEST manager of the Century! Pep won 2 UCLs in 4yrs of coaching Barça
Yaamaak
3
Let him won in PSG
NgoranEmile
2
if that was the case how many has he won with the current team??
chipsah4lyf
0
How is Pep a joke? Pep won the Manager of the Century Award! He coached Barca 4yrs and won the UCL twice! He absolutely changed Barca, he made it the most unstoppable club in the world! He's the first one to win 6 trophies in a season!
don't lie what about Flick
abdulfatawuseidu354
5
absolutely true pep
aviksarkerovik
0
Stop writing what you don't know. Roma knocked out Barca when Neymar was still there
see this
descarts
5
City will concede goals !! Pep knows that but it not easy to score goals on PGG ... they have navas and psg's main priority is UCL this season . They play differently in Big games . The way they press , the way they recover ball is brilliant. They block the vision of a player so the player cant pass most of the times . Poch knows how to maintain the balance in big games . He Beat Ajax , he knows when to defend when to attack and when to slow down just to hold the ball . Dont treat Poch too lightly .
fozilmnp
1
after neymar's departure barelona was knocked out by roma,liverpool,psgand bayern with a bag goals. if there was neymar they did not lose with conceding more goals.i am not saying that barcelona would win but barcelona have a chance to win 1 or 2 ucl if there was neymar.
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neymar wasn't there when roma knocked out barcelona bro
Benaclmnrz
0
Pep shut your mouth, with him in 6 years, they managed to win just one, so how were they going to win 2 or 3?
for 2 yrs they were defeated by a single goal and if Neymar was there, Barça would definitely have won!
neymarabhi10
0
Stop writing what you don't know. Roma knocked out Barca when Neymar was still there
wtf 😂
Benaclmnrz
0
Stop writing what you don't know. Roma knocked out Barca when Neymar was still there
which year are you even talking about?
Benaclmnrz
1
Pep is a joke 🤣 Neymar is more of an actor instead of a player.
How is Pep a joke? Pep won the Manager of the Century Award! He coached Barca 4yrs and won the UCL twice! He absolutely changed Barca, he made it the most unstoppable club in the world! He's the first one to win 6 trophies in a season!
nuubclosyz
6
If Ronaldo was still in Real Madrid, we would have won like 16 champions league by now
nuubclosyz
0
after neymar's departure barelona was knocked out by roma,liverpool,psgand bayern with a bag goals. if there was neymar they did not lose with conceding more goals.i am not saying that barcelona would win but barcelona have a chance to win 1 or 2 ucl if there was neymar.
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Stop writing what you don't know. Roma knocked out Barca when Neymar was still there
9jaboy
1
Pep is a joke 🤣 Neymar is more of an actor instead of a player.
aviksarkerovik
9
after neymar's departure barelona was knocked out by roma,liverpool,psgand bayern with a bag goals. if there was neymar they did not lose with conceding more goals.i am not saying that barcelona would win but barcelona have a chance to win 1 or 2 ucl if there was neymar.
CHEMISTRY_OF_SPORT
0
Pep shut your mouth, with him in 6 years, they managed to win just one, so how were they going to win 2 or 3?
playa7
4
He managed to win only 1 with Iniesta in midfield, you don't need to be a rocket scientist to know he would have won 0 with a non existent midfield.
seheimnruy
3
Real would have won 3 more cl and this won too if Ronaldo stayed.
madridista4life❤️
1
Nice joke 😂😂😂😂
nuubclosyz
1
So what happened in 2013, 14, 16, 17? why didn't they win it in these years? Pep stop smoking
myworldfootball
1
Yea, that's why they won 1 in 5 years 🤣🤣
billionmoidollar
3
Neymar right now after hearing this
ibraahimsajjadh9
1
mind games
fimdeioruz
5
I hope he will come back
Witcher
2
If y’all want to watch match I’ll send discord link