Lionel Messi announced himself in style at Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday night as his first goal for the club downed Pep Guardiola's Manchester City.
Messi took the game away from City late on but Guardiola took several positives despite a 2-0 Champions League defeat in the Parc des Princes on a night that saw Liverpool thrash Porto 5-1.
The City manager heaped praise on his old prodigy, claiming it was impossible to thwart him for the entire game.
'The (Messi) goal was fantastic,' Guardiola said. 'We know it's impossible to control Leo during the whole 90 minutes but he was not much in touch with the ball.
'We know quite well when he can run and get close to the box he is unstoppable. We knew it already, we spoke about that, we cannot control them for 90 minutes, these huge talents.
'The only options I know is to defend deep for 90 minutes deep and pray or to take the ball and try to play your game. We played our game. Our attackers could be more aggressive and say, 'oh, I can score - I have this quality..' This is what they have to do in the future.'
Messi pleaded for more time to settle in France after making only his fourth appearance for Mauricio Pochettino's PSG since leaving Barcelona over the summer.
'I hadn't been able to play recently and this was only my second game in this stadium,' Messi said. 'I'm adapting to my new team. The more we forwards play together the better our relationship will be. We all need to grow together and improve and keep giving our best.
'City were great opponents. It was very important for us to win the match after our draw against Brugge. I'm very happy to have scored.'
Last year's finalists missed a number of chances - not least when Bernardo Silva could only hit the bar from two yards before half-time. PSG scored with two of their three shots on target, Idrissa Gueye opening the scoring after eight minutes.
'The team was there, the same as Stamford Bridge on Saturday,' Guardiola added. 'We are alive. It was a good performance, we did everything but couldn't score.
'That's football. It's a pity. The most important thing was the performance, it's the same here as at Chelsea. This was our team.
'Now we are going to eat good tonight, drink a glass of wine and recover before Liverpool on Sunday.'
Desmondeyum
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Messi: If Pochettino can’t see me he can’t sub me off
Futbol_MeSSiah_30
522
Reminder: Messi's story every season is like a thriller movie: 1. Trailers and Teasers 2. Some flashes of genius at the start 3. And then leaving you in suspense 4. Meanwhile, help and assist friends and Team 5. Then BANG: Action - goal, goal, goal... 6. And then end with heroic Glory... The action starts today
Desmondeyum
474
Your Humility level needs to be 1000% for you to be the GOAT with (6 Ballon d'Ors and 6 Golden boots after Just carrying your national team to their 1st title in years being the best player and the highest goal scorer, expecting your 7th ballon d'Or soon) to do this Messi 🐐🐐🐐
Raphiejay
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Pep’s team played better Psg has to work hard to keep possession and retain it when they lose it They didn’t create many chances too Considering their front three
Mosanya
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Whichever team, whichever badge, if Messi scores we celebrate ❤️🐐
Desmondeyum
353
Manchester isn’t Blue, Manchester isn’t Red, Manchester is Messi. He owns that city
Desmondeyum
242
The best thing about Messi is that he doesn’t know that he is the Goat🐐❤️
Champion88
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For people who said he was finished.. this is the real goat Hala Barca fans are you with me
Neurer
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Messi: should I be doing this while Herrera is watching on?. . Neymar: You know realized how hard it is to defend against what you invented[Crylaugh]
Mosanya
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Rio Ferdinand would do anything for Messi 😂
MUJAMMELLM10
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Leonel messi is most complete playing in the world...he did everything that no one doesn't...but some brainless people still thinking Ronaldo is mr. champions league just because of his more tap in goals🥴This is so funny🤣