Lionel Messi does his talking on the football pitch according to The Atheltic's Dermot Corrigan.
Messi and Pep Guardiola renewed their relationship on the pitch on Tuesday night as PSG faced Manchester City. Dermot Corrigan addressed the relationship between the two as a "coming together of two of the greats."
PSG hosted City in their Champions League Group A fixture and all eyes were on Messi as he scored his first goal for the Parisian club. Messi and Guardiola forged their relationship between the years 2008 to 2012 winning three La Liga's and two Champions League trophies. In that time, Messi picked up the Ballon D'or every year.
Corrigan explains Guardiola's arrival into the senior squad in 2008 as perfect timing.
"When Guardiola came in and took over a young Messi, he was just on the cusp of becoming the player we know today. He was only 19-years of age. Ronaldinho was still there, Deco was still there and so was Eto'o.
"It really was a coming together of the best coach and the best player in the world at the time."
Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola gestures during the Champions League final soccer match between Manchester City and Chelsea at the Dragao Stadium in Porto, Portugal, Saturday, May 29, 2021. (Carl Recine/Pool via AP)Corrigan admits Messi would always rise to the occasion, so it was no wonder he scored against his former boss.
"By the end, Messi had 77 goals in all competitions in their last season together. He scored in Pep's last home game and in the Copa del Rey final."
Corrigan also highlighted the on-field nature of Messi as a personality trait.
"He just wants to play football. He wants to score goals and win trophies. Everything else is not that important to him."
All eyes will be on Messi and Guardiola once again when they meet in the return fixture in Manchester in November.
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