Fascinating footage of Pep Guardiola explaining to his Manchester City players why Lionel Messi is the best footballer he’s ever seen during a team talk last season has emerged.
The team talk was filmed for a newly-released City documentary, ‘Together: Champions Again!’.
The documentary series provides behind-the-scenes access to City’s 2021-22 Premier League title-winning campaign and provides fans with a rare glimpse behind the curtain.
During the second episode, we see what happened when City travelled to Club Brugge for their third fixture of the Champions League group stages.
Guardiola’s side beat RB Leipzig 6-3 in their opening game before losing 2-0 away at Paris Saint-Germain a fortnight later.
Messi, who Guardiola coached for four unforgettable years at Barcelona between 2008-2012, scored a magnificent first PSG goal against City at the Parc des Princes.
PARIS, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 28: Lionel Messi of Paris Saint-Germain scores their side's second goal during the UEFA Champions League group A match between Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City at Parc des Princes on September 28, 2021 in Paris, France. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)
With Messi’s performance still fresh in his mind, Guardiola used the legendary Argentine forward to explain how City could finish off Club Brugge during a half-time team talk at the Jan Breydel Stadium last October.
The English side were already 2-0 up by this point thanks to first-half goals from Joao Cancelo and Riyad Mahrez, but Guardiola wanted more from his players.
BRUGGE, BELGIUM - OCTOBER 19: Riyad Mahrez of Manchester City scores their side's second goal from the penalty spot during the UEFA Champions League group A match between Club Brugge KV and Manchester City at Jan Breydel Stadium on October 19, 2021 in Brugge, Belgium. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
What did Pep Guardiola say to City players about Lionel Messi?
“Do you know why Messi is the best player I’ve ever seen in my life?” Guardiola asked his players. “Because he is a competitor. He’s an animal.
“And now, we pass the ball we take a look…
“When you pass the ball… attack here!
“You have to score the goals, guys!
“Messi passes the ball and goes in like a machine. He smells the goal!
“And you have to cross it and you have to arrive.”
Watch the clip here:
What happened after half-time?
Explaining how Messi scores so many goals clearly had the desired effect for Guardiola, whose side netted three more times before full-time to secure an emphatic 5-1 victory.
BRUGGE, BELGIUM - OCTOBER 19: Cole Palmer of Manchester City celebrates after scoring their side's fourth goal with team mates during the UEFA Champions League group A match between Club Brugge KV and Manchester City at Jan Breydel Stadium on October 19, 2021 in Brugge, Belgium. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
City finished the 2021-22 Champions League group stages top of Group A, one point above Messi’s PSG.
However, both teams were eliminated from Europe’s premier club competition by eventual winners Real Madrid in the knockout stages.
Having never won the Champions League before, lifting the European Cup will once again be City and PSG’s primary objective this season.
LEICESTER, ENGLAND - JULY 30: Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola looks on during the The FA Community Shield between Manchester City and Liverpool at The King Power Stadium on July 30, 2022 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
