Guardiola hails ‘unique’ Messi

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola hailed man-of-the-match Lionel Messi on Saturday after the Argentian maestro inspired a Champions League rout of Manchester United.

Messi scored Barcelona’s superb second as the Spanish giants ran out 3-1 winners over United to clinch their second Champions League crown in only three years with an electrifying display at Wembley.

Messi’s second-half strike saw the Argentinian equal Ruud van Nistelrooy’s record of 12 goals in a single Champions League campaign, and took his tally to an astonishing 56 goals in 62 matches this season.

Afterwards Guardiola did not hestitate to lavish praise on the 23-year-old superstar.

“He is the best I have ever seen and probably the best I will ever see,” Guardiola told reporters.

“I don’t think this team would have made the qualitative leap that we have made in the past few years without him.

“Messi is unique, he is a one-off. I just hope that he does not get fed up and he can continue to play as he has done.”

Guardiola, one of Europe’s most highly rated young coaches, meanwhile confirmed he intends to remain at Barcelona for at least another season.

“I always feel pressure inside of me but I’m so happy to be here as a coach to these guys,” he said.

“I intend to stay one more year here and then we will see. It all depends of whether I feel the passion. If I don’t feel the passion any more, maybe I go home.”

Guardiola also declined to give his opinion on where he believed his team ranked in the annals of football.

“I don’t know because I didn’t see a lot of teams. I never saw the Ajax of (Johan) Cruyff, or the Real Madrid of (Alfredo) di Stefano or the Santos of Pele. But if people remember us as one of the best in maybe 10 or 15 years I will be happy.”

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.