Pep Guardiola completely dismissed comparisons between Karim Benzema and Lionel Messi when asked if the Frenchman was on his level.
Prior to last night's Champions League round of 16 second leg, a journalist quizzed the Manchester City boss on the former Lyon striker after his impressive form this term.
But the Catalan refused to put Benzema and six-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi in the same bracket - outlining the sheer number of players who have received the comparisons.
"Benzema is extraordinary, fantastic," Guardiola said, as per MARCA.
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"But since my time at Barcelona there have been 20 players that have come onto the scene and people have asked if we can compare him with [Leo] Messi. 20 players."
Messi and Guardiola as a combination worked wonders for Barcelona, winning a famous treble together in 2010/11, so it's no surprise that the 49-year old continues to put him on a pedestal.
Benzema, however, is said to have been "furious" with Guardiola's comments going into the game at the Etihad Stadium, according to Edu Aguirre from El Chiringuito, via Sport Witness.
Aguirre said: "I've been told that he has converted this anger in motivation (...) The rage he had, because he didn't understand how Guardiola could speak that way, he has transformed it into the will to win (tonight) and silence Guardiola."
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There was no silencing from Benzema, as despite notching his 27th goal of the season, Real suffered another 2-1 defeat to City to crash out of the competition courtesy of a 4-2 aggregate scoreline.
City will now take on Lyon in Saturday's quarter final in Lisbon after the French outfit got past Juventus on the away goals ruling.
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Manchester City, Football News, FC Barcelona, Football, Pep Guardiola, Lionel Messi, Karim Benzema
