Pep Guardiola: 'Change in tactics helped Manchester City'

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has admitted that he changed his tactics against Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

Guardiola has previously suggested that he would stick with his trademark philosophy of passing the ball out from the back, but a more direct style helped City record a famous 3-1 win over the Catalan giants.

However, the Spaniard indicated that the style of play may be a one-off to counter the attacking qualities of his former club.

The 45-year-old is quoted by BBC Sport as saying: "We competed with Barcelona, but for now we did it in a different way. We played more long balls because we are still not ready to keep the ball and play like they do.

"They have been playing that way for 25 years. For us, it is three or four months that we have been trying to play in a different style."

City now sit two points behind Barca in Group C.