Pep Guardiola doesn’t know how to stop Messi, Neymar, and Mbappe

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola doesn’t know how he will stop the Paris Saint-Germain trio of Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappe, ahead of City’s Champions League game against the French giants. 

The City boss thinks that it will be difficult to control the talented attacking trio when his side comes up against them on Tuesday night. 

“I don’t know. This amount of quality, I don’t know what we should do to stop them, honestly. They’re so good. This amount of talent altogether, to control it, is so difficult,” said the Manchester City manager. 

Guardiola believes that Lionel Messi – whom he managed when he was coach of Barcelona – needs time to adapt to the French league. The Catalan manager thinks that the Argentine genius will come well in the future at PSG. 

“They need time, but normally it’s not given to us. The quality is there, of course. For many years, they [PSG] had exceptional players and top managers. In the French league, cups, and Europe they are there. We know exactly how difficult it is. But at the same time, we are trying to go again, knowing how good they are individually and collectively. I think this kind of player [Messi] speaks for itself. Messi speaks for itself; you don’t have to describe him. What he’s done is more than exceptional,” said Guardiola. 

Guardiola stated he was surprised that Messi left Barca earlier this year, but thinks that the Argentine will be happy in the Ligue 1 side. 

PSG and Manchester City are in Group A of this year’s Champions League. The English side won their opening group fixture against RB Leipzig, smashing the German club 6-3, but the French side could only draw against Club Brugge. 

The last time these two sides met in the Champions League was in last year’s semi-finals, where City won the round 4-1 on aggregate. The English champions won both home and away gigs at the Parisian side. 

The addition of Messi to the PSG squad, as well as the superb form they have shown in the league this season, will make matters tough for Guardiola and his wards on Tuesday night. PSG has won all eight league games in Ligue 1 this season, scoring a whopping 22 goals in those eight games. 

Manchester City, on the other hand, has faced some struggles in the league this season, drawing one and losing another of their opening six Premier League games.