The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Never mind the quality, it’s all about the victory
Hart gets chance to shine but slips down City order
an early save from Hoban’s drive.
There was drama in the 14th minute when the Israeli side was awarded a penalty by Dutch referee Bas Nijhuis who adjudged Janko had tripped Ofir Davidzada just inside the box, but Gordon beat Radi’s powerful spot kick away.
Hapoel soon had to make a change when former Chelsea attacker Sahar replaced Lucio Maranhao who had suffered an earlier knock, and just moments later he leapt to head a Radi corner past Gordon to give the Israeli side renewed encouragement.
Celtic were disjointed and in some disarray and Hapoel surged forward confidently looking for number two.
The Scottish champions were unconvincing in their rare forays as attacker Leigh Griffiths sent a drive straight at David Goresh, before the Hapoel goalkeeper made an equally comfortable save from Scott Sinclair.
Hapoel captain Maor Melikson went off injured to be replaced by Maor Buzaglo, but it made little difference to the home side’s dominance although Gordon was not too troubled before the interval which brought some much-
needed respite for Celtic. Rogic replaced Forrest for the start of the second half but three minutes later there was bedlam inside the stadium when Janko appeared to knock the ball out of the hands of Gordon as he dealt with a Ben Bitton cross, leaving Hoban to tap into the empty net. Celtic were rocking. The traffic continued towards Gordon and he was fortunate Sahar failed to connect properly with a volley from 10 yards.
French attacker Moussa Dembele came on for the dejected Griffiths and moments later shaved the far post with a curling shot on a Celtic break. In the 63rd minute Sinclair got the break of the ball six yards out, but Goresh made a fine save before Dembele’s shot on the follow up was blocked by two home defenders.
But at the other end Hoban’s scissors-kick escaped the far post before he had a long-range effort saved by Gordon.
An extraordinary match continued as the home side probed but ran out of ideas and then time – four minutes of which were added – leaving Celtic shocked but in the Champions League, which ultimately, was all that mattered. Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart will start tonight’s Champions League qualifier against Steaua Bucharest, but will be pushed further down the pecking order at the Etihad Stadium when Barcelona’s Claudio Bravo completes his £17million move tomorrow.
Manager Pep Guardiola will give Hart the chance to impress suitors when City aim to complete qualification to the group stages of the competition after winning 5-0 in Romania last week.
And the Spaniard insists his relationship with the England international is strong despite the 29-yearold being told he has no future in Manchester.
Guardiola said: “I have an excellent relationship with Joe.
“We were clear, him with me and I with him, and we spoke about our football.”
Chile international Bravo arrived at Manchester Airport yesterday and the manager added: “I cannot deny what everybody knows.
“Barcelona were the first ones who announced contact with Manchester City but, sorry, the deal is not complete.”
With 34-year-old Argentinian Willy Caballero having so far been preferred in goal this season, the arrival of Bravo will relegate Hart to third choice. Speculation Hart could leave City before next week’s transfer deadline is intensifying although Everton’s apparent interest has cooled.
Spanish club Sevilla have also been linked, but Guardiola claims he is not aware of any approaches.
He said: “I am not able to speak about that because I do not know what is going on.”
The decisions to drop Hart and midfielder Yaya Toure has detracted from City’s winning start to the season but the manager’s focus is solely on victory and he added: “I will make some rotations.
“I don’t know how many, they all deserve to play and I am so confident about all the players.
“But I have a lot of respect for the opponent and I know what happens in football. Everybody knows it’s not done until it’s done.
“I have seen many times in the Champions League – at half-time an experienced AC Milan team were 3-0 ahead and the final was done, but Liverpool won the Champions League final.
“I don’t like to play the game when people say it’s easy and it’s finished. No, a lot can happen.”
“I have an excellent relationship with Joe. We were clear”