Manchester City F.C. eye redemption vs Celtic F.C. in Champions League | Football News - Hindustan Times
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Manchester City F.C. eye redemption vs Celtic F.C. in Champions League

ByAFP, London
Dec 06, 2016 09:13 PM IST

Manchester City, who suffered a 3-1 loss to Chelsea that saw them four points behind in the Premier League, will be eyeing redemption against Celtic in the Champions League

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.

Manchester City’s players were involved in a brawl with Chelsea players, which has resulted in several bans for their players.(Reuters)
Manchester City’s players were involved in a brawl with Chelsea players, which has resulted in several bans for their players.(Reuters)

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.

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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 pre-match 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.

Highlights

Manchester City are four points behind Chelsea in the Premier League

Celtic are out of contention for the knockouts in the Champions League

Sergio Aguero has been banned for four matches

“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 tomorrow, 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.

Manchester City's Fabian Delph could return to action in the Champions League after being sidelined for three months due to a groin injury. (AFP)
Manchester City's Fabian Delph could return to action in the Champions League after being sidelined for three months due to a groin injury. (AFP)

Roberts returns

Captain Vincent 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.

But they have had a memorable 10 days, claiming the Scottish League Cup to bring up a century of trophies, and go into the game on the back of a last-gasp 4-3 win at Motherwell on Saturday.

“It is a great game as part of our development as a team,” said Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers.

“For us to develop we need this type of game and to play Manchester City is a brilliant game.

“We want to be competitive. We have coped with that as the games have gone on. We are playing a top-class team with outstanding players. Can we compete and impose our game on the match?”

One visiting player hoping to catch the eye will be 19-year-old winger Patrick Roberts, who joined Celtic from City last February on an 18-month loan deal.

Former City winger Scott Sinclair and left-back Kieran Tierney have been ruled out due to hamstring and ankle injuries respectively.

But Rodgers said centre-back Erik Sviatchenko and striker Leigh Griffiths were available for selection after they sat out the trip to Motherwell due to illness.

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