Sporting events without fans are “like friendly games”, said Pep Guardiola on Wednesday, during an interaction with Virat Kohli.

Kohli played host to a star-studded line-up of sports personalities during a virtual event organised by Puma India and the hugely successful coach was his second guest of the evening.

Replying to a question by the India captain on playing in empty stadiums in a world altered by the pandemic, Guardiola said, “Without people it’s like a friendly game every time.

“The show must go on but we need to get the people back. It’s a completely different game, you feel empty. The bad moments are less, the good moments are less,” the Spaniard added.

During an incredible coaching career, the 49-year-old master of stratagem has guided Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City to multiple league titles, besides winning the Champions League.

Coming from a background that has no relation with cricket, Guardiola said he is trying to understand the sport, having worked and lived in England for some years now.

“I have never visited India so when this pandemic situation ends, maybe I can go there. And maybe if we are together you can explain to me the rules of cricket. Oh my god, it is the most difficult and complicated game.

“I come from Catalunya where cricket is played but here in England it is an important sport. I try to follow it through the TV sometimes or I have some friends who play. You can play three days in a row and still it’s a draw. I can’t understand this.

“It must be an attractive sport in some way but you need to understand it. Next time we have to watch a football and cricket game together. I want to learn your game and promise me it’s going to happen,” he said.

The Manchester City manager said for a player to make it big, it’s the character that is more important than skills.

This was in reply to Kohli’s question on what he looks at while signing a player — skill or character.

“We see the skills (while signing a player) but we should see the character.

“The character actually makes the difference — to be competitive and more hungry to be able to put the bad moments aside, when you are able to find this as much as possible in the squad you have a winner team.

“Skill is not enough to win in higher competitions. But when you buy them you don’t know them,” Guardiola said.

Fully in agreement with Guardiola’s views, Kohli said: “A lot of people don’t understand this.

“They look at the players’ skills but behind the scenes work, on how he is reacting to a certain situation when the camera is not reacting to him, is he putting in the hard yard, these are the things that go unnoticed.”