Celtic Park spectacular
> Pep urges City to learn The Hoops lesson
MANCHESTER CITY manager Pep Guardiola expressed hope his players would learn their lesson after losing their 100% season record in a spectacular 3-3 Champions League draw at Celtic.
Aiming to equal Tottenham Hotspur’s English record of 11 straight wins at the start of a season, City had to come from behind three times to earn a point in yesterday’s Group C clash in Glasgow.
City reached the semifinals under Manuel Pellegrini last season, but not for the first time, Guardiola pointed to their current shortcomings as a sign of their callowness in continental competition.
“This club was 25, 26 years without playing in Europe and last year was the first time to go further than the quarterfinals,” he told reporters at Celtic Park.
“So that will be a good lesson. Europe is special, teams are so strong. It doesn’t matter where. The opponent here, Celtic, is an amazing environment, with the fans, and we knew that.
“We had many, many chances to win the game. We scored three goals ATLETICO MADRID coach Diego Simeone hailed his side’s display as one of the best in his hugely successful five-year reign in charge as Yannick Carrasco inflicted another 1-0 defeat for Bayern Munich at the Vicente Calderon.
Simeone’s men also beat Bayern at home in April on their way to a second Champions League final in three years. And the Argentine lauded Atletico’s tactical discipline as they secured an incredible 15th clean sheet and 14th win in 18 home Champions League games under Simeone.
“I feel so proud to be the coach of this team,” said Simeone.
“I liked everything today. We pressed high, took advantage of spaces on the counter-attack and played with intensity for 90 minutes which is very difficult to do against one of the best teams in the world.
“Tactically, the team interpreted the game fantastically. It was one of the best performances in my time at Atletico Madrid.”
Carrasco fired home the winner 10 minutes before halftime after Jan Oblak had denied Thomas Muller with a stunning save early on with Bayern’s best effort.
Atletico could even afford to see top scorer Antoine Griezmann smash a penalty off the crossbar seven minutes from time. Griezmann has now missed four of six penalties he has taken for Atletico, including in Europe away and we created three or four more clear chances.
“So it’s a pity, but that is the best way to learn. In Europe you cannot concede because they are machines. When you concede, when you make mistakes, they are there to punish you.”
City, the Premier League leaders, return to domestic action at Tottenham on Sunday, but Guardiola admitted thoughts would soon turn to the forthcoming double-header with his old club Barcelona.
“I said to my players in the beginning, in this group we’ll decide if we’re able to qualify for the next round in the last game,” said Guardiola, whose side trail Barcelona by two points.
“When you play against Barcelona, it will be tough, but now we try to analyse what we did and we’re going to see what happens in Barcelona and after at home.
“We are now second; we have chances, still. We’re going to recover well, to focus on White Hart Lane, and we have time to think about Barcelona.”
French striker Moussa Dembele, crucially in defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League final.
However, Simeone insisted the Frenchman will remain on spot-kick duty.
“He missed a penalty like (Diego) Maradona, (Lionel) Messi, (Michel) Platini, Zico, all the best players in the world,” added Simeone.
“He will keep taking them. He has incredible personality. He did 1000 things tonight that keep putting him amongst the best forwards in the world.”
Griezmann replied with glowing words for Simeone’s importance in his progression since joining from Real Sociedad just over two years ago.
“He has been very important for me because he has made me progress. I know I still have a lot to learn from him and I hope to continue like that,” said the Frenchman
“It is still frustrating to miss the penalty, but it won’t be the last time I miss a chance”
Defeat was Bayern’s first since Carlo Ancelotti replaced Pep Guardiola in charge after a perfect eight wins from eight before the former Real coach returned to Madrid.
However, it was a familiar story for Bayern, as having been knocked out by Spanish sides for the past three seasons in the Champions League, they failed to score on Spanish soil for the fourth consecutive trip. – AFP 20, was Celtic’s star man on a boisterous night at Celtic Park, twice putting the home side ahead.
But his third-minute opener was matched by Fernandinho and after Raheem Sterling had atoned for an own goal with a goal of his own, Dembele’s second – a flying volley – was cancelled out by Nolito.
“We’re very fortunate to have him,” Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers said of Dembele, who was released by Fulham earlier this year.
“He was coveted by a number of teams, but his agent is a clever guy. Does he go to a so-called better league, a more competitive league, and sit on the bench and not get so many games?
“Or does he come to a big club with the opportunity to play and develop?
“You saw tonight, he really bullied the back four of Manchester City. But he’s more than that.
“He’s got a wonderful touch. You see his agility for the third goal. He’s got power, he’s got pace. He’s a huge talent and he was outstanding tonight.”
Celtic were humbled 7-0 by Barcelona in their opening game, but Rodgers felt the quality of their pressing and attacking football against City proved they belong in this company.
“Manchester City have travelled around the English Premier League and absolutely destroyed teams, both in terms of pressing and their football,” said the former Liverpool manager.
“We’ve all seen it, hence everyone thought it would be hugely difficult for us. Hopefully the performance tonight shows this is a huge club.
“It just doesn’t have the platform of English Premier League clubs. This is one of the biggest clubs in the world.
“In order to keep improving, we need to be at this level, but we need to perform to be at this level. It’s a huge pat on the back for the club, for the atmosphere and for the players.” – AFP