“The players’ levels were very high”

Lionel Messi has mentioned that he watched the UEFA Champions League ultimate between Manchester Metropolis 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.

Nonetheless, Messi watched this yr’s Champions League ultimate, which resulted in a 1-0 win to Manchester Metropolis. His former Barca boss Pep Guardiola turned 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 Discuss):

“Champions League ultimate? Sure, I watched it. It was a traditional and really troublesome ultimate match, and the gamers’ ranges have been very excessive.”

Manchester Metropolis 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 outstanding marketing campaign through which in addition they received the Premier League and FA Cup.

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

Manchester Metropolis boss Pep Guardiola compares Lionel Messi with Erling Haaland

Manchester Metropolis’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 time and bagged 52 objectives in 53 video games throughout competitions.

Haaland broke the file for many objectives 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 mentioned (by way of The Guardian):

“When it comes to objectives and mentality, yeah. However Messi has performed it each season within the final 10-15. Erling since he began at Salzburg has obtained to the identical stage by way of objectives. It’s nearly each recreation, he scores a purpose.”

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

“One or two each recreation, he had the probabilities to do it, however Messi is essentially the most full participant I’ve seen by way of imaginative and prescient, dribbles, passes, competitiveness, in lots of issues which can be troublesome. Hopefully Erling may be so shut (to) Leo – that shall be nice for us and him.”

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