The 2008-09 Barcelona side is considered to be one of the greatest club sides of all time and now Lionel Messi himself has described that the 2009 Champions League performance from Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona side was almost perfect.
The Catalan side won a historic treble that season as they swept away Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United 2-0 in the final which was held at Rome. Samuel Eto’o scored in the first half while Lionel Messi added a second 20 minutes from time to seal the victory.
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Speaking about that historic day, Messi said:
“There are several games when the team played in such a way that it was almost impossible for the opponents to do any damage to us," he told the Sun .
“And it almost always happened in big matches.
“The final of the Champions League in Rome was one of those games when the team played the perfect match.”
Two years later, Barcelona would win their 4th European Championship, when they beat Manchester United again in the final, beating them 3-1 at Wembley. Comparing the two finals, Messi said:
“Both were inexplicable feelings but you live them in a different way,
“In any massive game when you score a goal, the joy of the people, your people, the supporters, and particularly our own fans, you can only enjoy those moments right there and then — and not beyond.”
The La Liga side enjoyed a hugely successful spell under Guardiola where they won an incredible 14 out of the 19 trophies they contested in 4 years. Now, Pep Guardiola's Manchester City are preparing to face his old side Barcelona in the Champions League.
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City need perfection to beat Barcelona – Guardiola
Manchester City must play "perfectly" to beat Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday, according to manager Pep Guardiola whose side suffered a 4-0 thrashing in the Nou Camp this month.
"I have never thought that we can't win a football match and I never will. Even when we lost 4-0," Guardiola told a news conference on Monday.
"It's difficult and we know we need to play almost perfectly to win - and if not, we will congratulate them and move on.
"Winning the last game helped a lot but the Champions League is much different. Tomorrow we have another chance against the best."
Striker Sergio Aguero looks all set to start against Barcelona having surprisingly been left out of the starting XI at Camp Nou. The Argentine striker grabbed two goals against West Brom in the Premier League and looks close to his best once again.
"When he is happy of course all the team is happy," Guardiola said.
It will be interesting to see how Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City cope with Messi and co at the Etihad tonight.
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