Manchester City supervisor Pep Guardiola has little doubt that Lionel Messi is the best participant of all time and his opinion wouldn’t change even when the ahead had not guided Argentina to the World Cup title in Qatar, the Spaniard stated on Wednesday.
Messi scored two objectives and once more within the shootout as he led Argentina to an emotional 4-2 win on penalties over France on Sunday, with the ultimate ending 3-3 after 120 minutes of breathtaking motion.
The 35-year-old, who loved a trophy-laden spell underneath Guardiola throughout their time at Barcelona, additionally received the Golden Ball award for the very best participant with supporters saying his efficiency had additional elevated his standing.
“Everyone has (an) opinion but nobody can doubt that he’s there as the greatest of all time,” Guardiola informed reporters earlier than Thursday’s League Cup fourth-round conflict towards Liverpool.
“For me, he’s the best, it’s difficult to understand that a player can compete with what he’s done.
“The individuals who have seen Pele, Alfredo Di Stefano or Diego Maradona… the opinions are sentimental, however the different aspect, if he (Messi) would not have received the World Cup, the opinion and my opinion would not change.”
Guardiola said City’s 16 players at the tournament would slowly return for club duty.
“Today, six gamers got here again. They had an unbelievable, distinctive expertise. Hopefully they arrive again and work nicely and in 4 years they’ll have one other expertise in Canada, Mexico and the United States,” Guardiola said.
“The gamers who had been on the World Cup are in higher situation than the gamers who had been right here. Sergio (Gomez), Erling (Haaland), Riyad (Mahrez) and Cole (Palmer), they’re lacking the rhythm a bit in comparison with Rodri or Manuel Akanji.
“I’m not concerned about March or April. Now every player has had different managers, a different competition… we have an important game tomorrow, then (in the Premier League) against Leeds (United). The January schedule is demanding so we want them back as soon as possible.”
This story has been printed from a wire company feed with out modifications to the textual content.
