Vardy surpasses Messi with hat-trick as Leicester thrash Man City and a Guardiola side concedes five for first time ever
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JAMIE VARDY surpassed Lionel Messi with his hat-trick against Manchester City.
The Leicester supremo struck three times in a 5-2 win at the Etihad.
It was the first time a Pep Guardiola side has ever conceded five goals.
And Vardy’s stunning performance made him the first-ever footballer to score an away-day treble against a team managed by Pep.
Legendary Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has never managed that.
He does have a hat-trick against City during Guardiola’s Etihad tenure.
But those goals came at the Nou Camp in 2016 when Barcelona beat City 4-0 in the Champions League group stage.
Vardy is no stranger to scoring three times in a single game against Guardiola’s City too.
He netted a trio in Leicester’s 4-2 win in 2016 at the King Power stadium - with the Foxes recording just 22 per cent possession that day.
But Sunday’s effort was the first time Vardy - or anyone for that matter - had hit three against Guardiola with the tactician playing at home.
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Reflecting on his match-winning performance, Vardy told Sky Sports: “We have set up to infuriate them and it has worked a treat.
“We knew if we stuck to our plan we would get some chances. I always want to improve. I am hoping I am doing that.”
He added to BBC Sport: “It was a great result. We tweaked it tactically today and knowing when we got the ball and played through their press we would get a few chances and we stuck them all away.
“We just had to keep believing. The main thing was getting the three points and we have done that with a great performance.
“It’s only the start though, we have to keep going and show that consistently.
“It’s only a start. The way we finished last season was not good enough so we have to keep it going now.”