''WE SURVIVED AGAINST THE BEST TEAM IN THE WORLD FOR 38 MINUTES''...GUARDIOLA REACTS TO MEMORABLE VICTORY OVER BARCA.

Manchester City Boss, Pep Guardiola insists his side were forced to survive against the 'best team in the world' before bouncing back to defeat Barcelona 3-1.

Lionel Messi's early goal for the Catalans was followed by several glorious chances which Barca failed to put away.                      

Sergi Roberto's stray pass led to Ilkay Gundogan's first goal - followed by Kevin De Bruyne's sublime free-kick and the German's second and City's third.

"For the first 38 minutes we saw the best team in the world," Guardiola admitted. "If Barça score the second goal, then the game’s done.

"Our goal here changed everything. Our players realised the bad moment was over. Kevin helped us a lot as a second striker.

"If we could have finished counter-attacks, we could have had the game won before."
Guardiola knew how difficult it is for a Club like City that are not really used to  Champions League football to compete with the best in the continent.

"When a club like Manchester City goes 25 years without Europe, it’s hard to fight face to face with them," Guardiola said. "We showed many, many good things.

"Today is a good step. We play against a great team and we compete. Now they will realise, 'wow, we won against the best team.'

 Guardiola also heaped praise on his Argentinian striker Sergio Aguero who missed the first leg in Camp Nou.

''Aguero played awesome! Sergio is so important," Guardiola added. "Without him we cannot achieve our targets. I am so happy for him because he was so happy."