BARCELONA, Spain -- Manchester City forward Nolito believes that Lionel Messi made all the difference in the 4-0 Champions League defeat to Barcelona.
Messi scored a hat trick on his return to the starting lineup after a three-week injury lay-off, making City pay for their sloppy individual errors at the Nou Camp.
Former Barca player Nolito said the scoreline flattered his old side and that they were punished for their mistakes by Messi's brilliance.
"We think the result is a bit exaggerated, we weren't so bad," Nolito told reporters. "After the sending off for Bravo ... but that happens in football and we have to carry on. We have to carry on and be more united than ever.
"Messi decided the game with his three goals. He's a player that makes the difference, the best in the world.
"In the first half we tried to take the ball off them, we did that. Ter Stegen made two or three pretty good saves, but that's football. We then had the bad luck to commit an individual error -- and that can happen to anyone. We have to carry on.
"Without Messi, it would have been a different game. Messi is Messi. He is the best in the world, he's unique. He doesn't need to produce 40 sprints a game -- one if to score a goal or give an assist."
City are now five points behind Barca in the Group C standings ahead of the return game at the Etihad in two weeks and only one point above German side Borussia Monchengladbach.
Bravo will be suspended for the game against his former club on Nov. 1 but Nolito says City must quickly put the Barca setback behind them and return to the form that saw them win their first 10 games of the season under Pep Guardiola.
"I imagine that Bravo will be frustrated because of the sending off," the Spain international added. "He'll feel better tomorrow. We'll give him support, but it's gone now. We have to keep growing and try to improve.
"We know that the Champions League is difficult. We have to do all we can to qualify in these last three games. We'll prepare the games the best we can."