PSG’s ‘exceptional’ attack of Neymar, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe is UNSTOPPABLE, claims Pep Guardiola ahead of Man City’s Champions League trip to Paris
- Lionel Messi trained on Monday as he looks to return to PSG’s starting eleven
- PSG take on Pep Guardiola’s Man City and the Catalan wants to see Messi play
- Guardiola coached Messi while at Barcelona and they hold a close relationship
Pep Guardiola admitted that Paris Saint-Germain’s front three are unstoppable and expects Manchester City to ‘suffer pain’ on Tuesday night.
Lionel Messi looks set to make a return after missing the last two matches and could line up alongside Neymar and Kylian Mbappe for only the second time.
Guardiola revealed he was surprised that Messi eventually left Barcelona for the French capital as he comes face-to-face with his former prodigy in the Champions League group stage.
Lionel Messi (left) is pushing to return to PSG’s line-up to take on Manchester City on Tuesday
Man City boss Pep Guardiola is hopeful that his former player at Barcelona can be involved
‘What should we do? I don’t know,’ Guardiola said. ‘This amount of quality I don’t know how to stop them, they’re so good, this amount of talent makes it so difficult. We have to defend well.
‘The talent cannot be stopped. We have to do it as a team, be compact, help each other, know we are going to suffer. How you handle through the pain in those moments. They are so good these kind of teams, you have to be able to suffer 90 minutes.
‘They’re exceptional, all of them are so good individually, they can combine and connect. We are looking forward to playing the game.
‘A long time ago you could not imagine (Messi leaving Barca) but it’s happened. In football, in life you never know what might happen. I’m pretty sure he will be happy there in Paris.
Messi missed the last two games and Guardiola was asked if it was a surprise to see him at PSG
Guardiola, pictured in 2011 with Messi, accepted that it was a shock to see him move to Paris
‘Messi speaks for himself, I don’t have to describe him. What he’s done is more than exceptional and hopefully tomorrow he can play for the benefit of the game.’
City have kept five consecutive clean sheets in the Premier League as the defending champions, although did concede three against RB Leipzig in the European opener earlier in the month.
Guardiola believes the collective defensive effort has set City up for another successful campaign – and has told John Stones that he must grab his chance when it arrives. Stones is yet to feature after the European Championship and suffered an injury during the last international break.
‘We’ve always defended well,’ Guardiola added. ‘Everyone puts their heart and spirit in for each other. That’s why we can defend well.
Due to the nature of PSG’s attack, Guardiola has called on a collect effort defensively in Paris
‘The only thing I understand is that defending depends on players will, running and desire. It’s not about being in this position, it’s the way you are. Most of the time here we’ve done it well.
‘We have to try to do it again. In general it’s quite good, but still we can do better. John needs minutes, he arrived late from the summer, got injured and then Aymeric (Laporte) and Ruben (Dias) are playing really good.
‘The season is so long and I know he’ll be ready. He’ll get minutes but sometimes he’ll have to wait. You have to wait and being on the bench, like Ayme last season.’
Meanwhile, Ilkay Gundogan will remain sidelined until after the international break and has not travelled to Paris.
