PEP GETS ONE OVER ON BARCA
Sixth time lucky as City finally sink Barca CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City defied history in their breathless Champions league victory over Barcelona. on a seismic night at a delirious etihad Stadium, two goals from ilkay Gundogan and a fantastic free-kick from Kevin de Bruyne sealed a stunning upset for the Catalan against his former employers, after lionel Messi had opened the scoring. Guardiola declared that his team had opened a new chapter with the deserved triumph.
‘When one club like Manchester City is 25 years without being in europe, you have a history,’ said the City manager following his side’s first competitive victory over their illustrious opponents.
‘History means that when you face a big team, you are not confident to fight face to face. We didn’t play against Barcelona, we played against our tradition.’
The result, which leaves City needing three points from two games to qualify from Group C, sparked joyous scenes in the stands. But the coach believes it is one step on a long road.
‘You need time,’ added Guardiola. ‘i think the club gives us time. Maybe today is a good step. For once in our lives we compete against the best team.’
Guardiola also hailed ‘awesome’ Sergio aguero. The argentine striker was not selected for the first match between the pair at the Nou Camp, which Barcelona won 4-0.
Here, however, he helped set up Gundogan for the equaliser and was a constant thorn in the visitors’ side.
‘He played awesome,’ said Guardiola. ‘For us, Sergio is more than important. Without him, we cannot achieve our targets. i am so happy for him.’
Guardiola came through the ranks at Barca and coached them to two Champions league titles. But he said the victory was not more special because of the opponent.
‘i am happy for City,’ he explained. ‘it’s normal that these things happen. i am very happy we have three points. i learned about my players, that they can play on the counter. For me, i am not more happy because i beat a club i love so much.
‘our first goal changed everything. The players realised the bad moment was over.’
in the second half, a reborn City had the injury-hit visitors rocking and a powerful de Bruyne free-kick, followed by Gundogan’s second, sealed a famous victory.
it left the stunned Barcelona boss luis enrique praising the ‘aggressive’ hosts and searching for answers.
‘it’s a strange feeling,’ said enrique. ‘They played very well. They were aggressive and provoked more errors from us than we did from them.’
Barcelona are weakened at the back right now, but that should take nothing away from City. To recover from a 4-0 humbling in the Nou Camp requires grit and faith — and they fell behind here, too.
For the period that followed Messi’s 21st-minute goal, the visitors looked untouchable. it would have been easy for City to crumble. They didn’t. They got a foothold in the game and dominated. after Gundogan’s 39th-minute equaliser, there was only going to be one winner.
Gundogan’s performance was a triumph for Guardiola, too. His summer signing scored twice and dominated midfield in the way Yaya Toure used to, except Toure never did it against Barcelona.
and while City’s defensive frailties remain, this was a performance that suggests the club could be genuine contenders for the european title this season.
The third goal encapsulated City’s supremacy. de Bruyne put a beautiful pass in behind Barcelona’s back four, Jesus Navas crossed and when aguero could not get the required contact, the ball then fell kindly for Gundogan to strike home.
City should have been afforded the opportunity to take the lead after 11 minutes but were instead accused of cheating.
aguero found raheem Sterling, who was tripped by Samuel umtiti. But Hungarian referee Viktor Kassai marched up — and booked Sterling for diving.
Having got away with one, Barca were ahead within 10 minutes. one moment City thought they were in with a chance of scoring, the next Willy Caballero was retrieving the ball from his net.
it happened in a flash. aguero had a shot blocked, which fell to Messi. He sprayed a pass out to Neymar and Barcelona were away down the left. reaching a deep wide position, Neymar looked up, spotted Messi continuing a run through the middle and found him with a perfectly weighted square ball.
The whereabouts of City’s defence at this time was unknown. They had parted, scattered, disappeared. Messi ran on to the ball, ran into the space, and side-footed it past Caballero.
Yet this is a Barcelona team missing key men defensively. Mistakes are being made and, in the 39th minute, one from Sergi roberto changed the game.
a mirror of the error made by John Stones here against Southampton last month, roberto passed blind across his own defensive line, finding only aguero. He played in Sterling who, intelligently, waited a split second for a team-mate to arrive in a better position. The delay allowed Gundogan to make ground and, with the ball at his feet, he could not miss. City were level and, to their credit, made it count.
More chaos in the Barcelona ranks soon after, an overrun ball allowing Fernandinho to shoot, with aguero inches away, and the momentum continued after half-time. roberto’s radar was woeful again, letting in aguero, who found Sterling, only this time his touch was heavy and he shot wide.
aguero then went close again before david Silva was brought down on the edge of the area. For once, an official found Barcelona guilty and de Bruyne lined it up.
What a free-kick it was. over the wall, out of the reach of Marc-andre ter Stegen. City were ahead. Not a flicker from Guardiola, once again. after the first goal, he called Fernandinho over for some tactical instructions, and after this, nothing. He didn’t even leave his seat.
a draw in Monchengladbach might now be enough. This was a coming of age performance. You get what you pay for, as the saying goes.