Guardiola delighted with City win after surviving Napoli ´massacre´

Pep Guardiola hailed Manchester City’s achievement in doing the double over Napoli to seal a last-16 Champions League place, having been “massacred” early on in Italy.

City needed just a point at Stadio San Paolo to secure their progression from the group stage on Wednesday, but Guardiola’s men came from behind to win 4-2 as Sergio Aguero became the club’s all-time record goalscorer.

While Napoli – who also loss the reverse fixture 2-1 in Manchester – are now in danger of crashing out of the competition, manager Guardiola again spoke of his admiration for the Serie A leaders and lauded another big win.

“Beating Napoli twice in two weeks is an incredible achievement,” Guardiola told Mediaset Premium. “They are perhaps the best side I’ve faced in my career.

“We tried to block their left flank, but they got there first and were too strong, they massacred us for 20 minutes. I am glad with the way we reacted, especially after going to 2-2, as Bernardo Silva kept the ball and moved it around.

FT | 2-4 #sscnvcity

Sergio breaks the record
Qualification to the knock-out stages

What a performance! pic.twitter.com/K1vQDd4RL8

— Manchester City (@ManCity) November 1, 2017

“I am so proud because I know the side we beat. I am in love with Napoli, with the way they make short passes and they didn’t give us time to think in the opening 20 minutes. We didn’t have the courage to play.”

Guardiola believes the two teams are very similar, meaning City had to show their class to come out on top.

The Spaniard added: “We are very similar teams, we like to keep the ball and press, so whoever does that best is going to trouble the other side.”