Pep Guardiola revels the secret behind Leo Messi world class longevity.

'You need to ask him to make short bursts of effort': Pep Guardiola claims Lionel Messi's world class longevity is down to limiting in-game running time

Pep Guardiola claims a factor in helping Lionel Messi maintain his high level of performances has been limiting his 'bursts of effort.'

Pep said 'Stars need to run like anyone else, if not the team can't cope, you need to convince them to run,' the Manchester City boss told Catalunya Radio.

'Sometimes, you say to them "I won't make you run 40 metres like the 20-year-old athlete in the team, but give me a reason not to run".

'If someone doesn't run, but scores three goals every game I can buy that, but nobody scores three goals a game, only Messi comes close.

'Right now, you need to ask Messi to make short bursts of effort. He can't run for the sake of running, no way. If Leo ran like he ran in his first season with me he'd be injured every three months. Managing legends of 30 and above is the hardest thing for a coach.'

On the subject of Messi's retirement, Guardiola, who managed him while at Barcelona, claimed that his former club need to prepare a statue for him once he hangs up his boots.

'One day Messi will retire and Barca will cope with that. What needs to be prepared is the space for the statue, the way to pay tribute to him like [Laszlo] Kubala or Johan [Cruyff], and I've no doubt they'll find it.'

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