Guardiola, categorical, on a posssible return to FC Barcelona

Pep Guardiola was once again clear that he will never return to Barcelona, where he spent the majority of his career as a player and a manager. 

“No, I will never go back to Barcelona to be coach there. My period there is gone," he said before his Manchester City side take on Huddersfield in the FA Cup. 

Asked also about Lionel Messi's future, he added:  “I said many times about Messi, my desire is that he will finish his career at Barcelona.”

The Catalan coach praised Barça, though, despite their heavy defeat to PSG in the week and suggested they could turn things around in the second leg at Camp Nou. 

“For me Barcelona are still the best team in the world,” he added. “Of course it was a surprise, but in football anything can happen.

“Competition - especially in the Champion League - is huge. But there is another 90 minutes left in the second leg and anything can happen.

"If a team can overcome this result then that team is Barcelona.

“It is normal after the game the comments that happen - but in the last 10 years Barcelona have ruled the world of football and my advice to everyone is, don’t criticise them that much because they’ve proved everyone wrong.”