Guardiola enjoyed Man City success but still rates Monaco

This will go down in the annals of history; a game so open and full of attacking brilliance it was hard to believe it was a last-16 first-leg tie of such importance.

“It was not easy because [Monaco] are a quality team”.

The City manager vowed to maintain his commitment to attack at Stade Louis II on 15 March after a breathless first leg against the French league leaders, who twice led and missed a penalty before conceding three goals in 11 minutes late in the game.

City have been impressive in the Champions League, but flattering to deceive domestically. “It’s not impossible. We’re a young team and conceding five hurts”.

Guardiola was keen to stress that the match is far from over.

“I think you can see he played much better – full of desire”. Saul Niguez, Antoine Griezmann, Kevin Gameiro and Fernando Torres scored for last year’s finalists.

He may have spent a short period on the bench for the first time in his City career, but anyone doubting Sergio Aguero can think again after his display against Monaco.

He didn’t have that when on loan at Manchester United or Chelsea, he wasn’t given the time.

This was not just one of the best games in Europe this season, this was one of the Champions League’s finest ever matches with two brilliant attacks slugging it out for 90 minutes in an end-to-end classic.

Guardiola was incensed in his technical area, revealing afterward his frustration at being unable to control a chaotic game. “When Bernardo arrived I straight away said he was a good player but he would have to keep working”.

Despite finishing on the losing side, however, there were few regrets for Monaco coach Leonardo Jardim, who is confident his side can still go through over the two legs.

Falcao then picked up a punt forward, powered past Stones easily and then produced a handsome chip over Caballero to make up for his spot-kick blunder in superb fashion.

That set the tone for a chaotic final half hour, which Jardim said was played at “150 percent speed”.

Falcao restored Monaco’s lead with a sublime lob after making a fool of John Stones but then City hit top gear.

There seemed no end to the surprises of this game as Aguero volleyed home into the bottom right corner of the goal from the left of the box, in the 71st minute, from a great Silva corner from the right. The way Falcao beat Stones for his second goal, in fact, looked like how Costa beat Otamendi to score that day.

“I’m so happy for the result because we’re still alive, and especially for the performance of the guys – for majority it is the first experience in the Champions League, and this kind of thing maybe helps for the club to achieve another step”.