THE CITY OF DREAMS

Pochettino learns a harsh lesson that the Blue half still reigns as the cream of Manchester

RB Leipzig were battering Bruges in Belgium, this contest, essentially, became something of an exhibition match, albeit a hotly-contested one.

And one thing is for certain, Pochettino’s PSG do not work as hard as Pochettino’s Tottenham did.

Well, maybe eight of them do.

But the other three are indulged because they are who they are and because they can produce match-winning moments.

There was certainly an element of fortune about the PSG opener just after half-time but all members of the super-talented trinity were involved, Mbappe converting through Ederson’s legs (below) after an unfortunate ricochet off Kyle Walker. It was such an unexpected setback, it appeared to shake City’s confidence and, from being a very occasional threat, PSG were now a frequent one. But that sort of thing does not stop the likes of Walker from dashing into opposition territory and the England right-back’s surge and cushioned volley eventually fell to Raheem Sterling (celebrating far left) who stabbed in the equaliser off a post with the scruffiest of toepokes.

When Guardiola said, at the weekend, that Walker was in the form of his life, he was spot on.

And Bernardo Silva is in equally god nick, his clever pass setting up Jesus for the winner.

In the grand scheme of things, it is hardly a seismic win but against PSG and their holy trinity, it was still some statement.