Guardiola says Messi is impossible to control, after 2-0 defeat by PSG

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was full of praise for “unstoppable” Lionel Messi after the Argentine scored his first goal for Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday. 

Messi missed his new side’s most recent wins against Metz and Montpellier through injury but returned to Mauricio Pochettino’s starting line-up for their UEFA Champions League clash this week. Scroll through the gallery above to see PSG in action against City

Senegalese midfielder Idrissa Gueye gave the hosts a 1-0 lead at the Parc des Princes, before the six-time Ballon d’Or winner scored an eye-catching second goal in the 74th minute for PSG to resign City to defeat in Paris.

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In a post-match press conference, Messi’s former Barcelona head coach Guardiola spoke glowingly about the 34-year-old and how hard it is to contain the Argentine for 90 minutes.

“The (Messi’s) goal was fantastic,” Guardiola said, per the Daily Mail.

“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.” [Kickoff]