Coach Pep Guardiola was left thrilled after Manchester City revived their Champions League bid by beating his old club Barcelona 3-1 in a gloriously open Group C encounter at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday.
Ilkay Guendogan scored twice and Kevin De Bruyne netted a superb free kick in a magnificent display from the home side that ended Barcelona’s 100% record and made handsome amends for City’s 4-0 drubbing at the Nou Camp two weeks ago.
Guardiola’s men now have seven points from four matches, two behind leaders Barca.
Pep Guardiola’s team turned a memorable game on its head to win 3-1, and end the English side’s run of being outclassed by its coach’s former club in recent years.
Pep Guardiola’s memorable game
Pep Guardiola says Manchester City’s Champions League victory against Barcelona was a win against club football’s greatest powerhouse.
City were forced to come from behind after Lionel Messi opened the scoring for the Catalans in the 3-1 result.
And former Barcelona boss Guardiola has praised his player’s for their response having gone behind.
“Now, we realize we won against the best team [in the world],” Guardiola said. “For the future generations, they are going to realize, ‘Wow these guys are able to beat the best team.’”
“Our performance 11 against 11 in Barcelona was much better than the first 38 minutes here,” he said.
“In the first 38 minutes we saw the best team in the world. We were in really big trouble. When Barcelona had the chance to score the second goal the game would have been finished.
“But football is like this, like when Fernandinho slipped and Messi scored in Barcelona.
“Our goal changed the game. Our players realised the bad moment in the game was over.
“In the second half we were compact, we made good high pressing and won a lot of balls with our high pressing. Also we defended with low blocks and used our counter-attack against them.”
“Considering our situation with the short time we’ve had together, against the best team in the world and our position in the group, our victory is so important,” he added.
“We have one more game to win to go into [the next round in] February and I hope in February we will be better. Gladbach’s draw [with Celtic] gives us a bit of breathing space.
Tactical second half change
Luis Suarez concedes Barcelona were surprised by Manchester City’s tactical changes in the second half of Tuesday’s 3-1 Champions League defeat.
“In the first half we could have killed the game off with another goal, but we’re aware that the opposition can play, too,” said Suarez, who’s now scored just two goals in his past seven games.
“Despite that, I think we have to be self-critical with how we played in the second half. In the second half, [City] changed the system and the way they pressed and that surprised us.
“We have to take the good and the bad from the game. At 2-1 [Andre Gomes] had a really good chance to make it 2-2, but it’s difficult once it goes to 3-1.”