Ruud Gullit takes aim at Guardiola following Man City's elimination

Guardiola was on the brink of reaching the Champions League semi-finals with Manchester City but an injury time winner was ruled out for offside by VAR.

However it didn't take long for Ruud Gullit to stick the knife in when it comes to the former Barça coach's record in the Champions League since he left the Camp Nou.

"It’s because he doesn’t have Messi," is what Gullit told beIN SPORTS. "That makes a huge difference. He tried to do it with Bayern Munich. He was close every time, but he couldn’t do it. Winning the [Bundesliga] championship in Munich is not an achievement anymore because they win it almost every year."

And ever since Guardiola left the Camp Nou he's been unable to reclaim Europe's top prize despite signing for elite teams. He failed to do it with Bayern and now with City.

"And I know that Pep, this is what he wants. He wants the Champions League and I feel sorry for him." The former Dutch superstar then suggested that what Guardiola wants can't be purchased. "You can’t buy a team to do it (win the Champions League). That’s what it is. And I really feel for him. I see this passion and I see what motivates him, and this is a huge blow for this team." 

And not content with sticking the knife in there, Gullit also claims that Pep shouldn't get all the credit for Messi's rise to stardom either. "Of course when he was with Barcelona he had an unbelievable team inherited from Rijkaard, who Messi had already made his debut under. And then Messi became even more important. And Messi was vital in a lot of games for him when he was with Barcelona."