Unsettled Man City target Celtic reaction for turnaround
City’s 3-1 loss on Saturday left them four points below Chelsea, who top the Premier League table, and saw Aguero and Fernandinho dismissed
LONDON: Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City will look to turn the page on their turbulent weekend defeat by Chelsea when they entertain Celtic in their final Champions League group game on Tuesday.
City’s 3-1 loss on Saturday left them four points below Chelsea, who top the Premier League table, and saw Sergio Aguero and Fernandinho dismissed for losing their heads in stoppage time.
City are already assured of a place in the Champions League last 16, while Celtic cannot even reach the Europa League, but goalkeeper Willy Caballero says the hosts still have a point to prove.
“Just hearing the anthem of the Champions League is a big motivation. It is the most important competition in the world,” the Argentine said during a prematch press conference on Monday.
“With this, it is enough. We have to respect this kind of game. We are going to play against a champion team and be focused and play in the same way we did against Borussia (Moenchengladbach) and Barcelona. “We lost at home. We need to recover the feeling of a winning team and the only way to do that is to win tomorrow.”
Caballero is expected to start in goal in place of Claudio Bravo as Guardiola rotates his starting XI for the Etihad Stadium encounter.
With Aguero banned from domestic football until New Year’s Eve, Guardiola must decide whether to hand him a last pre-Christmas run-out or give his deputy, Kelechi Iheanacho, a chance to get up to speed.
“There will be changes definitely,” Guardiola said.
“I am so happy to give minutes to people who deserved to play the last games. Whether Sergio will play or not, I will decide tomorrow.”
Fernandinho received a three-game domestic ban for manhandling Chelsea’s Cesc Fabregas and will not feature against Celtic due to a one-game European suspension. Roberts returns - Captain Vincent tomorrow, Kompany remains sidelined with a knee problem and winger Raheem Sterling is a doubt, having missed the Chelsea game after taking a knock to his knee.
But midfielder Fabian Delph is thought to be close to a return to first-team action after over three months out with a groin injury. Guaranteed to finish bottom of Group C, Celtic have only pride to play for, but they will hope to bow out with a performance akin to their fine showing in their 3-3 draw with City in September.
The Scottish champions have not won a game in Europe’s top-level competition proper since October 2013, while the last of their three victories in England dates back to 2003.