“The players’ levels were very high”

Lionel Messi has stated that he watched the UEFA Champions League closing between Manchester City and Inter Milan on Saturday (June 10).

The Argentine icon endured a disappointing European marketing campaign with Paris Saint-Germain, with the Ligue 1 champions crashing out within the final 16. He final received the competitors in 2015 with Barcelona.

However, Messi watched this yr’s Champions League closing, which resulted in a 1-0 win to Manchester City. His former Barca boss Pep Guardiola grew to become the primary supervisor to win trebles with a number of golf equipment.

The 35-year-old touched on the sport between the 2 European heavyweights, calling it a traditional (by way of Albiceleste Talk):

“Champions League final? Yes, I watched it. It was a classic and very difficult final match, and the players’ levels were very high.”

Manchester City got here away with the European title after Rodri’s 68th-minute strike proved decisive. It marked the primary time the Cityzens received the trophy, capping off a exceptional marketing campaign wherein in addition they received the Premier League and FA Cup.

Messi won’t be collaborating in subsequent season’s Champions League, because the legendary ahead shall be leaving PSG and heading to MLS aspect Inter Miami. His Parisians aspect exited the event in opposition to Bayern Munich within the final 16. Messi managed 4 targets and as many assists in seven video games in Europe’s elite membership competitors this season.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola compares Lionel Messi with Erling Haaland

Manchester City’s treble-winning marketing campaign has coincided with a record-breaking debut season for Erling Haaland on the Etihad. The Norweigan arrived on the Premier League champions from Borussia Dortmund final summer season and bagged 52 targets in 53 video games throughout competitions.

Haaland broke the document for many targets in a 38-game Premier League marketing campaign, netting 36 occasions in 35 video games. He was Europe’s in-form frontman this season and has earned comparisons with Lionel Messi.

Guardiola was requested whether or not Haaland shares the identical goalscoring need as his former Blaugrana attacker Messi. He stated (by way of The Guardian):

“In phrases of targets and mentality, yeah. But Messi has performed it each season within the final 10-15. Erling since he began at Salzburg has acquired to the identical degree by way of targets. It’s virtually each sport, he scores a objective.”

The Manchester City boss continued by lavishing reward on Lionel Messi as probably the most full participant he has ever seen:

“One or two every game, he had the chances to do it, but Messi is the most complete player I have seen in terms of vision, dribbles, passes, competitiveness, in many things that are difficult. Hopefully Erling can be so close (to) Leo – that will be great for us and him.”

Lionel Messi has scored 710 targets in 875 membership soccer video games throughout his illustrious profession. He managed 211 of them in 219 video games underneath Guardiola. Meanwhile, Haaland has bagged 187 targets in 236 video games, so the Norweigan has some method to go in reaching Messi’s goalscoring feats.