Guardiola praises 'mentally stable' City after eight-goal thriller against Monaco

The Citizens beat Leonardo Jardim's men 5-3 in Champions League last-16 first leg on Tuesday

MANCHESTER: Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said the experience of Tuesday's exhilarating 5-3 Champions League victory over Monaco would stand his side in good stead in the competition.

City are in control of the last-16 tie ahead of the return leg on March 15, but at several moments during the first leg, their European destiny appeared to be hanging by a thread.

Guardiola's side went ahead, fell 2-1 and then 3-2 down, but finally rallied with three goals in the last 19 minutes from Sergio Aguero, who scored a brace, John Stones and Leroy Sane.

"A lot of things happened, but in the moment we were lucky. We were stable mentally," Guardiola told BT Sport at the Etihad Stadium. "The old and young guys in the team played amazing. To live this experience helps us a lot in the future.

"Monaco has more history than us in the competition and you need this kind of experience to learn and improve. Of course anything can happen in Monaco and we have to score goals. We think in attack: attack, attack, attack."

He added: "The result is OK. It could be better, could be worse, but it is what it is."

Radamel Falcao scored twice for Monaco, in addition to a goal by 18-year-old Kylian Mbappe, but saw a second-half penalty saved by City goalkeeper Willy Caballero with the visitors 2-1 up.

"The first thing I say is today is one of the most exciting games in the Champions League this year," said Monaco coach Leonardo Jardim. "For the supporters it's very good. I think everyone stayed happy, watching the two teams.

"There was lots of attacking quality, eight goals. I think today Monaco played a great game. I've congratulated the players. But there were little defensive errors. The key moment of the game was the chance to go 3-1 up that we missed. Then our opponents made it 2-2."