Before the Champions League round of 16 second leg last night, a journalist asked the Manchester City boss about the former Lyon striker for his impressive form this term.
But the Catalans refused to put Benzema and the sixth time Ballon d’Or winner Messi in the same bracket – and outlined the sheer number of players the comparison has received.
Pep Guardiola when asked if Benzema is at Messi’s level: “To date I have been asked about 20 players and whether they are at Messi’s level. TWENTY. He is still only one on the list.” pic.twitter.com/9TFVXj1yyI
– Forward Barca (@ForwardBarca) August 6, 2020
“Benzema is extraordinary, fantastic,” Guardiola said, as well MARCA.
“But since my time in Barcelona there have been 20 players who came on the scene and people have asked if we can compare him to [Leo] Messi. 20 players. “
Messi and Guardiola as a combination worked wonders for Barcelona, together won a famous treble in 2010/11, so it is no surprise that the 49-year-old continues to push himself on a pedestal.
However, it is said that Benzema was “angry” with the remarks of Guardiola that went into the game at the Etihad Stadium, according to Edu Aguirre from El Chiringuito, via Sports Science.
Aguirre said: “I have told him that he has this anger in motivation (…) the anger he had because he did not understand how Guardiola could speak in this way, he transformed it into the want to win (tonight) and silence Guardiola. “
There was no silence from Benzema, as despite scoring his 27th goal of the season, Real suffered another 2-1 defeat to City to pull out of the competition with a 4-2 aggregate scoreline.
City will now take over Lyon in Saturday’s quarter-final in Lisbon after the French outfit came past Juventus on the decision of the away goals.
.
