Pep Guardiola heaps praises on Neymar ahead of showdown Champions League clash with Paris

Pep Guardiola heaps praises on Neymar ahead of showdown Champions League clash with Paris

Neymar and Guardiola during their time at Barcelona

Manchester City have made their first semi-final appearance under Pep Guardiola this season and face Paris Saint-Germain tomorrow. Pep Guardiola braces up for the challenge that the English side face, as Paris have the likes of Neymar, Mbappe, Di Maria in their ranks.

Guardiola heaped praises on the former Barcelona winger, Neymar as he identifies the Brazilian as a threat to his side’s chances of making it into their maiden Champions League final. Guardiola acknowledged the fact that the Paris attack can give sleepless nights to any manager around the world.

Guardiola will need to stop Neymar and Co. to qualify for his maiden Champions League final at Manchester City

Guardiola himself has never won the Champions League, or reached the final, since leaving Barcelona. The Spaniard is adamant, he is not feeling the pressure to get a result in the French capital, far from it, and believes domestic glory is still at the forefront of his mind.

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“They’re too good. I tried to sleep well last night and that was when I wasn’t thinking of them,” Guardiola told reporters on the eve of the clash.

“That’s the reality. They’re top players. That’s why they play in that team with the quality they have. We’re ready to try to stop them, defend as a team, play good football and try to score goals.”

Guardiola first faced Neymar when the Brazil forward was playing for Santos against his Barcelona side in the 2011 Club World Cup.

“I remember when I saw some clips of Santos in that era and I said to the (Barcelona) players, ‘This is the king of Santos’, and all the players were open-mouthed. They said, ‘Oh my God, what a player.’ He’s a joy to watch as a spectator,” he said.

“He has Brazil on his shoulders, the number 10 shirt of Brazil isn’t easy to wear.”

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