City showed too much respect for Lyon, Berbatov faults Guardiola

Dimitar Berbatov has faulted  Pep Guardiola’s tactics in the Champions League quarter-final clash between Manchester City and Lyon.

The Blues were eliminated at the hands of the French side in the Champions League quarter-finals in Lisbon, which marked another failure in the competition for Guariola’s side.

“I was very surprised at Pep’s tactics, it was the first time I’ve seen him look so defensive,” Berbatov wrote in his Betfair column.

“Usually, City play their own way and don’t worry too much about their opponents, but on this occasion they looked like they had too much respect for Lyon.

Since taking over at Man City, Pep Guardiola has spent around £762.3m on transfers. He still hasn’t got further in the Champions League than David Moyes did in his first season he was in charge of Manchester United.👀 pic.twitter.com/RfYXteOjTA

— Football Talk (@Football_TaIk) August 15, 2020

“Pep will know what mistakes he made.

“He is always going to come in for criticism in the position he is in, especially as City have been knocked out at the quarter-final stage four times.”

Berbatov also discussed Lionel Messi’s future and predicted that the Argentine will stay at Barcelona.

“I don’t see Lionel Messi going anywhere,” Berbatov added.

“Messi leaving would take away so much magic from the club.

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“If he were to leave, only very few clubs could really afford him, and Man City are certainly one of those clubs.

“I also think that with Pep there and their style of football, it could suit Messi there.

“I know many people will want to see him in the Premier League, including his critics so they could say he didn’t succeed there like Cristiano.”